Seoul's Seongdong-gu District has sent do-it-yourself bean sprout kits to 786 elderly people living alone due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Volunteers visit the elderly to deliver and set up the kits, checking on their health in the process. (Seongdong-gu District)

By Lee Hana

More people are starting to feel the psychological pressure of living in the uncertain times caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. To help such people cope, local governments have introduced customized services for them.

The services are designed to make social distancing a little more bearable, especially for those in the lower-income or disadvantaged class who feel isolated or depressed due to being stuck at home for long periods of time.

Seoul's Seongdong-gu District has sent do-it-yourself bean sprout kits to 786 elderly people who live alone and have nowhere to go due to the epidemic. The kit includes a pot with bean sprouts that need watering three to four times a day that can be picked and eaten in a week, giving the carer something to do. A volunteer visits the homes of the elderly to deliver and set up these kits, checking on their health in the process.

Im Do-woong, 80, a resident of the Majang-dong neighborhood who received the kit said, "(Since the outbreak) my home's been like a prison, with the TV as my only friend all day. I never thought about growing my own bean sprouts, but taking care of my batch has added a little joy to my life."

The Bucheon City Youth Counseling and Welfare Center since March 18 has sent care packages to around 240 teenagers unable to go to counseling due to COVID-19. (Bucheon City Youth Counseling & Welfare Center)

For students stressed out due to the start of the school year being delayed three times in the past month, the Bucheon City Youth Counseling and Welfare Center in the Seoul suburb of Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do Province, has sent care packages to young people since March 18.

With the intent to have young people stay connected though they are socially distant, the service targets around 130 teenagers unable to go to counseling due to COVID-19. The box contains guidelines on psychological health, a personal letter from a counselor, snacks, masks and hand sanitizer.

"While practicing social distancing, many young people have been cut off from their social network, which creates feelings of isolation and alienation and leads to psychological discomfort. We hope that our care packages, even temporarily, can help the kids feel reconnected and give them the energy they need to get through these times with their families," said the center's head Baek Jin-hyun.

Meanwhile, Seoul's Gangdong-gu District announced on March 31 that it began renting out books and board games for children stuck at home.

All children living in this district can apply to rent the items. The stuff is dropped off by the recipient's front door for pick up and return, ruling out face-to-face contact. Requests can be made online via the district's homepage, with a limit of one board game and three books per family and a maximum of 30 orders per day.

Seoul's Seocho-gu District since the end of last month has provided dog sitting for COVID-19 patients who live alone. (Seocho-gu District)

Seoul's Seocho-gu District since late last month has provided dog sitting for COVID-19 patients who live alone. The district on March 20 announced that it decided to begin the service given the rise in single-person households and to prevent dogs from being abandoned due to the high cost of pet care at facilities like pet hotels.

The dogs are cared for at the Seocho Animal Love Center until their owners are discharged from the hospital. The district has also had pet food delivered upon request to those in self-isolation who cannot leave their homes.

"We hope we can lend a helping hand during a socially difficult time. We'll keep a close eye on our neighborhoods to make sure no animal is left out," said Seocho-gu chief Cho Eun-hee.