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Busan Metropolitan City to Hold Opening Ceremony for “Maeum Jeompang No. 1,” a Welcoming Space for People Experiencing Loneliness

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will hold an opening ceremony today, October 6, at 4:00 p.m. for “Maeum Jeompang No. 1,” a space that any resident can visit without hesitation. The facility is located on the second floor of Banyeo Community Social Welfare Center in Banyeo 2-dong, Haeundae-gu, and will begin full-scale operations following the ceremony.

Approximately 50 people, including officials from Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan Council, and Haeundae-gu, are expected to attend the opening ceremony. The program will include a progress report, a ceremony for the presentation of donations and goods, a commemorative bibim-guksu-making performance, and a group photo session. In particular, the bibim-guksu, symbolizing warmth and harmony, will be provided free of charge to local residents using the welfare center after the opening ceremony.

The newly opened Maeum Jeompang is a community-based integrated support hub designed to proactively identify and assist residents experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties, including loneliness, promote social communication and interaction, and help them return to their daily lives.

The name “Maeum Jeompang” combines “maeum,” meaning a place for sharing one’s feelings and 마음, with “jeompang,” an old-fashioned word for a small shop. The name was selected through a public survey.

Busan Metropolitan City has also developed a unified Maeum Jeompang brand to enhance consistency and efficiency in its operations and strengthen public recognition. The branding will be applied to additional Maeum Jeompang locations to be opened in the future, beginning with this first location.

Based on the findings of the 2025 Survey on Socially Isolated and Withdrawn Households, which showed particularly strong demand for “an easily accessible and convenient place to visit” and “access to basic meals,” the City promptly translated these needs into policy and established Maeum Jeompang.

Maeum Jeompang No. 1 is a model example of public-private cooperation. Busan Metropolitan City selected and manages the participating organization, while donations from World Vision Busan were used to remodel part of Banyeo Community Social Welfare Center into a comfortable and convenient space.

The facility is also stocked with instant foods, including ramen donated by ZM-ILLENNIAL, creating an environment where residents can have a meal without feeling burdened.

In addition, participants in senior employment programs and members of the Community Social Security Council will support on-site operations and help create a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

Through the opening of Maeum Jeompang, the City aims to proactively identify at an early stage households experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties such as loneliness and provide phased support programs according to their level of risk.

The City will actively promote the Maeum Jeompang initiative to reduce the psychological barriers that may discourage people from visiting and ensure that anyone can feel comfortable using the facility. Visitors will be able to assess their risk of social isolation or withdrawal through a self-assessment. Depending on the level of risk, they will be offered non-face-to-face counseling and individualized professional counseling programs. The City also plans to provide comprehensive, in-depth services by connecting users with a public-private network that includes the Busan Youth Future Center, districts and counties, welfare centers, and other specialized organizations.

In addition, Busan Metropolitan City will establish an ongoing cooperative system with relevant organizations, including districts and counties, schools, medical institutions, and social welfare facilities, to proactively identify socially isolated and withdrawn households that may otherwise fall through gaps in the support system and provide timely, tailored services.

Mayor Chun Jae-soo said, “Every policy has a golden time. As society develops and becomes increasingly advanced, we must not hesitate for even a moment in helping residents experiencing psychological and emotional difficulties reconnect with society and regain their daily lives.”

He added, “Starting with the opening of this first location, we will continue to expand Maeum Jeompang and do our utmost to make Busan a city where no one is isolated and everyone can live happily together.”