Seocho-gu chief honored for female-friendly policies

By Kang Seung-woo

Seocho-gu Office chief Cho Eun-hee has been selected as the best local government head, according to the Korean National Council of Women, Friday.

Cho Eun-hee, head of the Seocho-gu Office. / Courtesy of Seocho-gu Office

Specifically, the second-term district office head was honored for her efforts to push ahead with policies designed to improve women's quality of life.

The award is given to a local government head who has contributed to boosting women's rights and interests and enhancing their standing.

Midway through her first term ― from 2014 to 2018 ― Seocho was picked as a female-friendly district in 2016 by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and since then has pursued a variety of policies for women.

“Cho's female-friendly policies are based on her experience as a working mother as she knows their challenges more than anyone else,” a Seocho official said.

Her efforts directed toward working moms are evidenced by the number of public daycare centers in the district increasing by 40 in the past four years.

In addition, the 57-year-old ordered private daycare centers in the district to make public their closed-circuit TV surveillance amid growing abuse of children, to bring them in line with public centers.

The district office's childcare policies also received rave reviews from the evaluation panel. The policies include financially supporting grandparents who look after their grandchildren, and giving new moms access to low-cost helpers after childbirth. They are being benchmarked by local governments across the nation.

The district office also runs programs directed at women's safety. In response to ever-escalating spycam porn cases, it has employed “sheriffs” to detect hidden cameras in public restrooms.

For women on career breaks, an academy has been in operation for four years.

“I am pleased that Seocho-gu's efforts for women were recognized through the award,” Cho said. “I will try my best to make our district's policies become a role model for others.”