한뉴픽

To be honest, we didn’t know much about what the Daejeon Public Agency for Social Service (D-PASS) was, or what kind of event the Daejeon Social Services Expo—hosted by the agency—would be. We simply thought it might be a special event organized by a welfare-related institution and headed to the Expo Citizen Plaza where it was being held. Feeling both physically and mentally awkward at first, we began participating in the Expo as safety assistants.

The booths were divided by organization and topic: child and youth welfare, elderly care, disability support, youth policies, and mental health services, among others. Thanks to the staff members’ explanations, interactive experiences, and giveaways, our understanding of each organization deepened over time. What moved us most was that programs such as Youth Mental Health Support and Digital Care Services for the Elderly went beyond simply providing help — they sought to foster independence and support individuals in standing on their own again within society.

At the Funeral Assistance booth, we even had a chance to experience what it might be like to prepare for one’s own passing—something we had never really thought about before. It made us consider questions such as where and how we would like our funerals to be held, how long they should last, and what we might wear. It was, quite literally, a moment that awakened our dulled awareness of the life cycle “from cradle to grave.”

When hunger began to set in, we enjoyed free snacks provided at the venue and spent the rest of the Expo exploring. As the sun set, the stage filled with congratulatory remarks from various speakers and a series of performances. Local artists and welfare organization teams performed songs and dances, while the crisp early autumn air had filled the night with energy and warmth.
Amid the applause and excitement, we suddenly realized that this event was far more than a one-time celebration. The variety and number of booths—and the long histories of the participating institutions—spoke volumes about how broad and diverse social services have become, and how consistently they have been provided over the years. It was astonishing to realize how many people benefit from such services, and equally surprising that we had known so little about them.

Most of all, what struck us, as both volunteers and participants in the Expo, was that the story of care is ultimately the story of our own lives. Until now, living in good health and stability, it had been difficult to imagine myself as someone who might one day need care. But in truth, each of us has been cared for since infancy and even now, as we navigate the uncertainties of young adulthood, we may also need emotional care. One day, when our bodies or minds grow weaker, we too will rely on another’s helping hand.
Reflecting on how easily we forget or avoid that simple truth, we found ourselves asking: Having lived by the hands of others, to whom can we now extend our own hand? And in that thought, we felt a quiet sense of gratitude that such an agency exists here in Daejeon to guide and connect all these roles of care.

Choi Su Yeong / Reporter