Yongsan-gu Certified as an Age-Friendly City by the World Health Organization (WHO)

With the Vision of "A City to Live In, Creating the BEST Yongsan Together," Advancing 45 Strategic Projects in 5 Key Areas by 2023... Establishing Dementia-Friendly Villages and Training Specialized Personnel for Elderly-Friendly Housing Management

[Asia Economy Reporter Jong-il Park] Yongsan-gu (Mayor Seongjanghyun) has obtained certification for joining the World Health Organization (WHO) Age-friendly Cities International Network.

An age-friendly city is a city equipped with policies, infrastructure, and services that enable elderly people to lead healthy and active social lives, aiming to create a city environment that is good for all generations and all citizens, including the elderly, to live together.

So far, the district has been making proactive preparations to respond to the rapidly progressing aging population and the resulting changes in the local community. Currently, the population aged 65 and over in the district accounts for 17.4% of the total population (Seoul 15%), and it is expected to enter a super-aged society (over 20% of the population) by 2025.

First, in September last year, the district enacted the Basic Ordinance for the Promotion of Elderly Welfare to Implement an Age-friendly City in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, and completed the Yongsan-type Age-friendly City Creation Research Project in December.

Based on this, the district set the vision of “BEST Yongsan, a city where people want to live and create together.” By 2023, it plans to promote 45 strategic projects across five major areas aiming for a healthy and vibrant old age, a safe environment, and a community living together.

The key projects of the first phase of the age-friendly city creation plan established by the district include ▲ establishing dementia-safe villages ▲ producing specialized personnel for age-friendly customized housing management ▲ attaching the ‘Smile Silver Mark’ for a considerate and yielding traffic environment ▲ and activating mentoring programs between the elderly and university students.

With its membership in the Age-friendly Cities International Network, the district plans to accelerate efforts to create an environment where elderly people can live well by sharing information and experiences on age-friendly policies among member cities worldwide.

Seongjanghyun, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “Starting with the WHO Age-friendly City membership certification, we will do our best to make Yongsan a future city where aging is not inconvenient and all generations can live well together.”

The Age-friendly City is an international network established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to effectively respond to the global trends of population aging and urbanization. To be certified as an age-friendly city, it must meet international standards in eight areas presented by WHO: housing environment, transportation convenience, social participation, employment, communication and information, community support, and health.