Busan is good

Busan Metropolitan City and Korea Housing Finance Corporation Cooperate to Promote Senior Welfare through the Establishment of the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center”

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that it will hold an MOU and donation ceremony with the Korea Housing Finance Corporation today (28th) at 11:00 AM in the International Protocol Room of City Hall for the establishment of the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” and other related initiatives.

Mayor Park Heong-joon, President Kim Kyung-hwan of the Korea Housing Finance Corporation, National Assembly member Lee Hun-seung, and others will attend the event to pledge their cooperation in establishing the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center,” which aims to create eco-friendly senior jobs and support the safe and healthy aging of Busan’s elderly citizens.

On this occasion, the Korea Housing Finance Corporation will deliver a donation of KRW 220 million.

The donation will be used to support the smooth implementation of the following four projects: ▲ the establishment of the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center,” ▲ the Busan-style Habitat Challenge, ▲ the Living Support Fund Program for Low-Income Grandparent-Grandchild Households, and ▲ the Senior Awareness Improvement Project.

Of the total donation, KRW 180 million will be allocated to establishing the 10th “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” in Busanjin-gu.

In June of this year (2025), the city selected five sites for this year’s “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” project. The locations are as follows: ▲ No. 6 in Gangseo-gu, ▲ No. 7 in Dong-gu, ▲ No. 8 in Buk-gu, ▲ No. 9 in Gijang-gun, and ▲ No. 10 in Busanjin-gu. The city plans to complete installations at these locations by the end of the year.

The selection of these sites is meaningful as it transforms underutilized urban spaces—such as closed senior care centers and daycare centers—due to declining birthrates and aging populations, through remodeling, thereby creating new social value in line with ESG principles.

In addition, this year’s allocation includes KRW 25 million for the Busan-style Habitat Challenge, KRW 10 million for the Living Support Fund Program for Low-Income Grandparent-Grandchild Households, and KRW 5 million for the Senior Awareness Improvement Project.

• ●[Busan-style Habitat Challenge]: A project that installs safety handles and ramps in deteriorated housing requiring renovation, providing a comfortable and happy living environment for vulnerable senior citizens. This year, eight households will be supported.

• ●[Living Support Fund Program for Low-Income Grandparent-Grandchild Households]: A project that provides living support funds to grandparent-headed households caring for children in financially difficult situations. This year, 20 households will be supported.

• ●[Senior Awareness Improvement Project]: A project centered on the operation of the “BSIF Youth Log,” part of the Busan Silver Film Festival. Youths participate as partners in media education for seniors and in the film festival, fostering intergenerational communication and understanding.

Currently, the city is operating five “Our Neighborhood ESG Centers” and is achieving two goals: ‘creating senior jobs’ and ‘realizing carbon neutrality.’

• ●The centers opened as follows: ▲ No. 1 in Geumjeong-gu (2022), ▲ No. 2 in Dong-gu (2023), ▲ No. 3 in Haeundae-gu (2024), ▲ No. 4 in Yeongdo-gu (February 2025), and ▲ No. 5 in Jung-gu (June 2025).

To date, the centers have achieved the following outcomes: ▲ created 3,281 eco-friendly senior jobs, ▲ collected 83 tons of waste plastic, ▲ generated KRW 620 million in sales from eco-friendly product sales, ▲ provided environmental education and experiences to 7,734 children, and ▲ received benchmarking visits from 2,143 individuals.

Mayor Park stated, “The ‘Our Neighborhood ESG Center’ initiative has gained global recognition, including winning the Green World Awards—referred to as the Oscars of the environmental sector—in May. These centers serve as community-based carbon neutrality hubs built with the participation of public, private, and civic sectors.” He added, “We will continue expanding the centers to create eco-friendly senior jobs and position them as key infrastructure for our 15-minute city strategy.”