Hotels to provide amenities for underprivileged

About a dozen major hotels in Seoul will provide amenities for the unprivileged to better support their living conditions, city officials said.

Seoul Metropolitan Government and 11 hotels made an agreement last week to provide 32 hotel items, including amenities, electronics and linens, for those in need when the hotels replace them. This will benefit about 8,000 low-income residents living in public rental houses, shelters and temporary single-room units, the city said.

The participating hotels include Lotte, Ritz Carlton, JW Marriott, Westin Chosun, Novotel and Grand Ambassador.

According to Seoul City’s data, those living in temporary single-room units spend 45 percent of their average monthly wage of 510,000 won ($450) on their housing. Shelter residents are required to purchase their own hygiene goods and socks when they are admitted to the facilities.

Many of those living in public rental houses also do not have basic household electronic items such as a refrigerator or TV, it added.

“This is a civil cooperation project that does not need additional budget. The city will support the project so that it does not end up as a one-time event, but stay as a sustainable plan,” said Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon.

(rene@heraldcorp.com)