Songpa-gu Distributes 'Smart Insoles' with Built-in Location Trackers for People with Developmental Disabilities

Free Distribution of GPS-Embedded Insoles Linked to Smartphones... Real-Time Location Tracking for People with Developmental Disabilities Provides Family Peace of Mind

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Songpa-gu (Mayor Park Seong-su) is distributing ‘Smart Insoles’ equipped with location trackers to help individuals with developmental disabilities train for independence and prevent disappearances.

The ‘Smart Insoles’ are GPS-embedded insoles placed inside the shoes worn by individuals with developmental disabilities. When worn, their location is transmitted in real-time to the guardian’s smartphone, and if they move beyond a designated distance or location, an automatic warning text message is immediately sent.

Previously, a wristwatch-type ‘wandering detector’ was developed for similar purposes, but it was not very helpful for individuals with developmental disabilities who tend to reject unfamiliar objects.

According to statistics from the National Police Agency, more than 8,000 individuals with developmental disabilities go missing each year. Among them, about 60 do not return to their families, highlighting the urgent need to establish a social safety net.

In particular, because it is difficult to predict behavioral patterns in developmental disabilities, early detection is crucial to prevent disappearance incidents.

Accordingly, through this project, the district expects to not only prevent disappearance incidents but also assist individuals with developmental disabilities in commuting independently and adapting to the community, thereby reducing the caregiving burden on their families.

Songpa-gu plans to recruit 35 households with developmental disabilities in the first half of the year and provide the ‘Smart Insoles’ free of charge. Priority will be given to low-income households such as basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups, and training on how to use the device will also be provided. The district plans to monitor the effectiveness and user satisfaction of the project and actively consider expanding support in the future.

Mayor Park Seong-su stated, “We expect the ‘Smart Insoles’ support project to provide practical help to families of individuals with developmental disabilities by preventing disappearance incidents,” and added, “We will continue to actively discover projects that help the independence of individuals with developmental disabilities and do our best to build a stronger social safety net.”