The Joseph Sharing Foundation of the Archdiocese of Seoul opened a new pastoral and medical outreach center on Feb. 26 in Dongja-dong jjokbang village in Yongsan District, expanding home-based care and integrated support for residents in medically vulnerable communities.
The Joseph Neighbor Love Center, located in a three-story building in Dongja-dong, will serve as a field-based hub for home visits to severely ill and homebound patients with limited mobility. The center will also link medical services with social prescriptions and related forms of assistance.
Bishop Paul Kyoo-boi Koo, vicar general of the archdiocese, presided over the blessing ceremony marking the start of full operations.
The building was made possible through a substantial donation from the late Lim Young-ae, baptized Teresa, who died on Feb. 7 after expressing her wish that her contribution be used for the poor. Joseph Clinic plans to remember her in prayer during weekly Masses offered for benefactors.
The center will function as the operational base for five existing home-visit teams. It aims to improve accessibility for residents of Dongja-dong jjokbang village and nearby gosiwon, while also providing a community space to strengthen neighborhood-based care and communication.
Its service coverage includes Dongja-dong and surrounding medically underserved areas such as Donui-dong jjokbang village in Jongno District, Yakheon-dong and Huam-dong. The foundation also plans to expand support in response to the increasing number of young homeless individuals.
With the establishment of the new center, the foundation intends to increase visiting doctors by area and further activate home medical services. It also plans to train social prescription coordinators to build an integrated support system addressing both physical and mental health needs, supporting the recovery and self-reliance of people experiencing social isolation.
