Residents in South Korea can now use mobile identification to handle administrative matters at local government offices and banks without needing a physical ID card. The government has enabled the issuance of mobile resident registration cards, providing citizens with a convenient digital alternative. There are two methods for obtaining a mobile ID. The first involves visiting a local administrative welfare center, completing the necessary paperwork, and scanning a QR code provided by the staff. This method allows for free issuance of a mobile resident registration card. Alternatively, individ
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety and the Korea National Arboretum have issued a warning following continued reports of food poisoning and gastrointestinal symptoms from individuals consuming wild plants they mistook for edible greens. Over the past five years, 41 cases of poisoning related to wild plant consumption have been reported, with 33 of them—around 80%—occurring between March and June, highlighting the risk during the spring season. Identifying toxic plants is particularly challenging in spring, as it is often difficult to distinguish between edible and poisonous species based sol
The Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education has published a new Korean language learning textbook for use in the 2025 “Gyeonggi Korean Language School (KLS)” program, also known as the Gyeonggi Korean Language Sharing School. The textbook will be distributed across the province and abroad. As the province with the highest number of multicultural students in the country, the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education continues to implement policies to support these students’ smooth transition into the public education system. The newly published textbook was developed to enhance Korean language ed
The South Korean government is revising its immigration policies to allow foreign youths—such as second-generation immigrants—who have completed primary, middle, and high school in Korea to switch to work visas and continue residing with their families in the country, even if they do not pursue higher education. Additionally, the government will extend the "Status of stay to be granted to foreign children staying in Korea for a long term to guarantee their right to education" originally set to end on March 31, for another three years until March 31, 2028. The Ministry of Justice announced thes
The number of users registered in South Korea’s “119 Safety Call Service,” which provides tailored emergency medical support during crises, exceeded 1.21 million last year. According to the National Fire Agency, as of December 2023, a total of 1,218,534 people had signed up for the 119 Safety Call Service. The service allows emergency responders to access pre-registered personal information regardless of location, enabling them to deliver customized first aid and facilitate swift hospital transport. Anyone can sign up free of charge through a simple process. The service is available to all cit
The Ministry of Justice has announced the implementation of an "Electronic Entry Declaration" system, allowing foreign travelers entering South Korea to submit their entry declaration forms online. Previously, foreign nationals entering South Korea were required to manually complete a paper-based entry declaration form either onboard the aircraft or at the airport and submit it directly to an immigration officer. Immigration officers had to verify the submitted forms manually and scan them one by one during entry procedures, leading to prolonged immigration processing times. To address these i
Gyeonggi Province is enhancing social support from pregnancy preparation to childbirth and postpartum care to create a better pregnancy and childbirth environment this year. To support healthy pregnancies and childbirth for men and women of childbearing age, the province provides essential fertility testing costs for all individuals aged 20 to 49. During pregnancy, it offers essential nutritional supplements, medical expense support for adolescents and high-risk pregnant women, and psychological counseling. For postpartum recovery and maternal and neonatal health, Gyeonggi Province supports ma
Starting March 1, passengers will no longer be allowed to check in portable batteries or electronic cigarettes as part of their baggage, nor store them in overhead compartments inside the aircraft. To ensure immediate response in case of abnormal signs, passengers must carry these items on their person or store them in seat pockets. Charging portable batteries during the flight is also strictly prohibited. Particularly, terminals of embedded and protruding portable batteries must be insulated using electrical tape or stored in protective pouches, zippered bags, or plastic bags to prevent conta
The government announced that it has launched the issuance of mobile foreigner registration cards as of January this year. The mobile foreigner registration card can be used universally like the existing physical foreigner registration card and will also be expanded for use in non-face-to-face services in the future. All registered foreigners aged 14 and above who possess a smartphone in their name are eligible to obtain a mobile foreigner registration card, which carries the same legal validity as the physical card. The mobile foreigner registration card can be obtained through the Ministry o
"Osteoporosis" refers to a condition where bones become weak and prone to fractures due to a decrease in bone density. Bones are living tissues that continuously undergo a process of removing old bone and forming new bone. The amount of bone in our bodies increases as we grow, but it gradually decreases as we age. Particularly, women experience a rapid decrease in bone density within 3-5 years after menopause. When bones become weak due to osteoporosis, they can fracture easily, even with minor impacts. To minimize these risks, it is important to prevent osteoporosis early and manage it consis
고성군가족센터가 다문화가족 자녀의 학습 격차 해소와 성장을 위한 교육활동비 지원에 나선다.군가족센터는 오는 31일까지 지역 내 다문화 가족 자녀 대상 교육활동비 지급에 대한 접수를 진행한다. 이번 교육활동비는 교육 급여를 받지 않는 기준 중위소득 100% 이하의 7~18세 한국 국적 자녀가 받을 수 있다. 초등(7~12세) 40만원, 중등(13~15세) 50만원, 고등(16~18세) 60만원 규모의 지원금을 연 1회 카드 포인트로 지급받을 수 있으며 교재 구입과 학원비 등 교육적 목적으로만 사용이 가능하고 오는 11월 말까지 전액 소진해야 한다. 신청을 희망할 경우에는 고성군가족센터에 방문 접수하면 된다. 더 자세한 사항은 담당자(070-4107-3381)에 문의하면 알 수 있다.
화성시가족센터(센터장 박미경)는 5월 28일부터 7월 2일까지 매주 수요일마다 노년 1인가구 24명을 대상으로 집단상담 ‘신나게 움직이며 나누는 인생 이야기’를 진행했다고 전했다. 집단상담에서는 ▲일상 공유를 통한 마음 나누기 ▲신체활동을 통한 마음 환기(뇌활성화 운동, 플로어컬링 등)이 이루어졌다. 회기가 진행될 수록 강사와 참여자 간 라포가 형성 되었고 그 결과 높은 참여도와 결속력이 나타났다. 노년 집단상담 참여자는 “일주일 동안 이 시간만을 기다릴 만큼 집단 상담이 삶에 큰 활력이 되었다. 서로 위하며 일상을 나누고 시간을 보내니 너무 행복해졌다”고 소감을 밝혔다. 화성시가족센터 박미경 센터장은 “어르신들이 프로그램을 하며 더 젊고 건강해지신 것 같고, 프로그램 내내 웃으며 행복해하시는 모습을 보니 저도 덩달아 웃음이 나온다. 노년 1인가구의 삶에 기쁨을 주는 센터가 되도록 계속 노력하겠다”고 말했다. 화성시가족센터는 8월 13일부터 9월 17일까지 청년 1인가구를 대상으로 미술치료 집단상담 ‘나를 알아 가는 여행’을 진행할 예정이며, 이를 통해 심리적, 정서적, 환경적 어려움을 해결하고 자아존중감을 향상 시키는데 중점을 두고 운영할 계획이다. 관련
화성시가족센터 긴급위기지원은 단순한 일시적 돌봄에 그치지 않고, 위기가정을 위한 통합적 서비스로 구성되어 있다. 가족 내 보호자 공백이나 단기적인 간병이 필요한 경우에는 보듬매니저가 가정을 직접 방문해 생활돌봄 서비스를 제공하며, 위기상황으로 심리적 불안을 겪는 부모와 자녀에게는 주 1회 심리상담이 지원이 가능하다. 더 나아가 위기가정의 정서적 회복과 생계 안정뿐 아니라, 위기 종료 후에도 교육·문화 프로그램 및 자조모임 등으로 연계하여 지속적인 회복을 돕고 있다. 지원 대상은 최근 1년 이내 위기 사건을 겪었거나, 위기상황이 진행 중인 사례관리 가정, 또는 가족의 생계를 책임지고 있는 청소년 가장, 단독가구 등이다. 센터 관계자는 “위기 상황에 놓인 가족이 적절한 시점에 도움을 받을 수 있도록 적극적인 발굴과 지원을 이어갈 것”이라며, 지역 내 위기 가정과의 연결망 강화를 위해 지역주민과 기관들의 관심과 협조를 당부했다. 온가족보듬사업 프로그램 관련 궁금한 사항은 화성시가족센터 상담사례팀 전화(070-7774 7084)로 문의하면 된다.