How Yongin’s Mayor Is Transforming Disabled Welfare: Insights from the Haeroum House Visit

On February 10, Yongin Special City Mayor Lee Sang-il visited the Yongin Central Market to extend Lunar New Year greetings to merchants and citizens. He also made a goodwill visit to ‘Haeoreum House,’ a welfare facility for individuals with disabilities located in Seongbok-dong, Suji-gu.

Mayor Lee, accompanied by his wife Kim Mi-young, shopped at the market, purchasing fruits, rice cakes, pancakes, and bread while engaging in friendly conversations with local shoppers and merchants.

After his shopping excursion, the mayor participated in a campaign alongside merchants and citizens to promote traditional market patronage and price stabilization.

Subsequently, Mayor Lee visited Haeoreum House, where he delivered the market goods and expressed appreciation for the dedication of the welfare workers.

During his tour, the mayor meticulously inspected the facility to ensure the residents’ comfort and well-being.

Mayor Lee remarked, “While we’ve made significant progress in disability awareness and social systems, there’s still room for improvement. As mayor, I’m committed to enhancing welfare policies for individuals with disabilities and the elderly, and I’ll work tirelessly to establish robust support systems for our most vulnerable citizens.”

Kim Jong-soo, Director of Haeoreum House, expressed his gratitude, stating, “We deeply appreciate the mayor’s efforts last year to address one of our most pressing challenges: staffing. We hope you’ll continue to lead initiatives that improve disability awareness and expand welfare policies.”

Haeoreum House is a specialized welfare facility for individuals with severe disabilities, providing residential care and support for social integration to those who face challenges in daily living. The facility currently houses 29 residents with severe disabilities.