By Hyunsung Bang, South Korea
The cooperative movement for urban regeneration and community renewal in the local community is gaining momentum. Maeil Shimbun and the National Health Insurance Corporation (NHIS) have joined forces to support the 'Save Our Neighborhood' and 'Rescue Children in Housing Poverty' campaigns, two of the Maeil Shimbun's social contribution projects, and to assist citizens in need.
The issue of impoverished people's access to housing and health as a result of social division is a critical responsibility that should no longer be disregarded. The direction of housing welfare policy for 17,000 impoverished children in Daegu is unclear. Although policies and programs for the housing disadvantaged are being adopted, they have failed to reduce children's housing poverty.
Of course, it's still just a sliver of a spark. However, it is self-evident that if these efforts toward a healthy community even slightly alter the atmosphere of our society, local residents' sense of community will increase, and perspectives on those in vulnerable housing and health environments will improve quickly.
Changes in members of society's consciousness, as well as an evolved welfare society, are not just words. Only after the difficulties and challenges of marginalized communities and the residential poor have been thoroughly evaluated and studied can appropriate improvement actions be recommended. It is difficult to revitalize a blighted neighborhood and complete community revitalization if this approach is ineffective. The most significant theme is societal collaboration in general. Only when important stakeholders such as local governments, public institutions, consumer and civic groups, corporations, and schools engage and collaborate can urban regeneration be hastened.
Only when urban renewal that takes advantage of regional peculiarities and the formation of a tight cooperative system are preceded can Daegu live and enhance the lives of its residents.
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