Busan is good

Opening of the 8th “Our Neighborhood ESG Center,” a Hub for Carbon Neutrality and Age-Tech Mayor Park Heong-joon: “A Driving Force for Making Communities Better Places to Live”

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Busan Metropolitan City announced that it will hold the opening ceremony for the Buk-gu branch of the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” today (March 10) at 3:00 p.m. at Deokcheon General Social Welfare Center.

Attendees at the ceremony are expected to include Mayor Park Heong-joon, Buk-gu Mayor Oh Tae-won, Busan Metropolitan Council Member Kim Hyo-jung, President Kim Soo-young of the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged, Won-Buddhism Dongnae District Head Choi Si-hyeon, Busan Bank Gupo Branch Manager Kim Young-don, and representatives from related organizations including Lotte Chemical.

The eighth center (Buk-gu), opening today, represents the third case of repurposing a daycare facility that closed due to declining birthrates and the advent of a super-aged society into an “Our Neighborhood ESG Center.”

Busan Metropolitan City created the Buk-gu center by utilizing the former Deokcheon Wongwang Daycare Center site. Additional centers currently under development with the goal of opening this year—such as the second Dong-gu center and the Nam-gu center—will also remodel closed daycare facilities, serving as representative examples of utilizing idle spaces.

At the Buk-gu center, Busan Metropolitan City will promote a range of linked programs for local children and residents, including eco-friendly experience programs, a specialized kids market for children’s goods, and a meal delivery service for vulnerable groups.

Programs will include resource-circulation activities using waste plastics and spent coffee grounds, as well as hands-on experiences such as making personalized keyrings from recycled plastics and coffee grounds and toy disassembly experiences.

In addition, through a related initiative, the center will operate a specialized kids market where residents can donate or purchase toys, clothing, shoes, and childcare products at affordable prices, thereby spreading the practice of ESG values in everyday life.

Furthermore, the city plans to produce and deliver meals to 350 households in Buk-gu, including elderly residents living alone, multicultural families, and single-parent households. Through this initiative, the city aims to improve nutritional conditions and support livelihoods for vulnerable groups while strengthening the social safety net by checking on residents’ well-being and implementing integrated community care.

In particular, Busan Metropolitan City plans to transform the Buk-gu “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” into an Age-Tech hub utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) by the end of this year, supporting community-based care and fostering the growth of the local silver industry.

Age-Tech refers to products and services that combine aging and technology, using advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence to support seniors’ independence, health, and safety while improving their quality of life.

The city also plans to cooperate with the Busan IT Industry Promotion Agency to provide various Age-Tech products and services at the Buk-gu center, including AI-based senior financial services, rehabilitation robots, meal intake and nutritional analysis services, dementia-prevention devices, and smart farms. These initiatives aim to address care gaps and promote the growth of the regional silver industry.

Additionally, in cooperation with public and private companies subject to the European Union’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, Busan Metropolitan City plans to expand the “Our Neighborhood ESG Center” network to a total of 16 locations within this year.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The ‘Our Neighborhood ESG Center’ represents a new model where jobs, the environment, and community coexist in a single space. It is also a key hub of our city’s 15-minute policy, where citizens can meet nearby neighbors, build meaningful relationships, and find happiness within their community.” He added, “We will continue expanding the ESG Centers so they can serve as a driving force in making local communities more livable.”