A Visit to Yangju Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center
In November, as autumn deepens, I headed to Cheonnyeon Namu Apartment Complex 8 in Okjeong-dong, enjoying the pleasant weather perfect for a walk.
My destination was the Yangju Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center, visible amidst the red-tinged leaves within the complex.
This place, the first welfare center established in Yangju, feels particularly special. It's an open welfare space where all local residents can learn, share, and grow together.
Based on its mission to be an "open welfare center growing together for a happy community," it provides various welfare services.
The Yangju Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center is easy to find, located on the left side of the main gate of Cheonnyeon Namu Apartment Complex 8 in Okjeong-dong.
A small garden is cultivated in front of the entrance, and next to it, a wooden deck and terrace offer a great place for residents to relax or chat.
Upon entering, you'll see the information desk straight ahead. To the left is 'Cafe Cheonnyeon Namu,' and to the right is 'Haengbok Nanum Jangteo Mannabojang' (Happy Sharing Market - Let's Meet and Protect).
'Cafe Cheonnyeon Namu' is run by barista volunteers and is open from 10 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
You can enjoy various beverages such as Americano, Latte, Yuja tea, and Chamomile tea at affordable prices. The space is filled with the warm aroma of coffee and the smiles of the volunteers.
Opposite the cafe is 'Mannabojang,' a donation space that is always open within the welfare center.
Residents can donate unused clothing, shoes, bags, and daily necessities. The welfare center sells these items at low prices, and the proceeds are used to support isolated households in the area.
All items except food can be donated, but items that are out of season or heavily used are difficult to donate.
If you donate three or more items, you will receive a 10L garbage bag, making participation even more rewarding.
In the hallway inside the welfare center, works created by residents through lifelong education programs were on display.
Calligraphy and art pieces warmly adorned the walls of the welfare center, and just looking at the works, you could feel how vibrant this place is.
Following the hallway, you'll find the Eoullim (Harmony) Classroom and Baeumteo (Learning Space). A program schedule is posted in front of each classroom, allowing you to see the courses currently in progress at a glance.
As of the fourth quarter of 2025, various programs were in progress, including line dance, singing class, and silver yoga for seniors, as well as English conversation, Pilates, janggu (Korean drum) class, and knitting for adults. Children's art, play sports, and violin classes were also being offered.
Most lifelong education programs are structured as 3-month courses, and a small fee is charged for programs except for play sports.
Since there were no classes at the time of my visit, I was able to look around the classrooms. Inside the Baeumteo, I saw a piano and a staff-lined chalkboard.
I learned that music classes such as piano and violin lessons are held in this classroom!
At the end of the hallway is a senior citizen's restaurant called 'Surabang.'
Surabang is open 5 days a week (Monday to Friday) from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM, and you must enter by 12:20 PM to have a meal.
Free and paid users were separated, and the bulletin board displayed the daily menu and information on volunteer groups.
On the day I visited, the Hoecheon Women's Volunteer Fire Department was providing meal service. I was impressed that volunteers from all over the community were helping seniors with their meals.
The Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center provides various welfare services for residents.
It operates case management services, service provision projects, community organization projects, and specialized projects.
In particular, it holds representative local festivals and events in which residents participate directly, such as the Okjeong Market and Onmaeul Festival, every year.
It has established itself as a place to practice communication and sharing in the local community.
The welfare center, which practices learning and sharing, also has volunteers who can participate in various fields such as meal service at the senior citizen's restaurant, education volunteer work, program assistance, and event support.
If you want to participate, you can apply through visit, phone, or website.
Returning to the lobby, there was 'Onnuri Hall' on the opposite side. It wasn't a large space, but it had a large mirror and many chairs, and events with many people, such as group programs, were held there.
On the way to the lobby, there were tables and chairs for resting, and the tables were organized with welfare center newsletters, program application forms, and information leaflets, so anyone could easily obtain information.
With the vision of 'an open welfare center growing together for a happy community,' the Yangju Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center is playing a central role in the local community, going beyond simply providing welfare services to connecting residents' relationships through direct participation.
This place, where you can learn, share, and grow with your neighbors in your daily life, was truly a space that realizes 'welfare together.'
Even as the seasons change, the warmth of this place will continue unchanged, and I could feel that Okjeong Community Social Welfare Center is at the center of Yangju, where tomorrow will be warmer than today.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/yangju619/224068189048
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