Seoul City to Operate 'Gieokdabang' as Fixed Cafes at Geumcheon and Seodaemun-gu Dementia Centers

Handok and 2018 Barista Participation by Mild Dementia Seniors
Operating from May at Geumcheon and Seodaemun-gu Dementia Relief Centers to Prevent COVID-19

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City announced on the 3rd that it will operate two fixed-location cafes of the mobile cafe 'Gieok Dabang' jointly run with Handok to prevent COVID-19.

Seoul City's 'Gieok Dabang' is a cafe where elderly people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia participate as baristas. The city and Handok have been conducting this dementia prevention campaign through a public-private partnership since 2018.

This year, to prevent COVID-19, the cafe was changed from a mobile food truck type to a fixed cafe inside dementia relief centers, allowing operation in compliance with quarantine guidelines. It will be operated at two locations: Geumcheon-gu Dementia Relief Center and Seodaemun-gu Dementia Relief Center.

The two 'Gieok Dabang' locations will also have elderly baristas diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia. In particular, visitors to the dementia relief centers who undergo examinations, consultations, or participate in programs can receive coupons to use the cafe, where they can order coffee and tea.

Park Yumi, Director of the Seoul City Citizen Health Bureau, said, "This year, 'Gieok Dabang' has been changed to a cafe inside dementia relief centers. We will operate it in compliance with quarantine rules to serve as a place of communication between elderly people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia and the general public, and strive to improve and spread awareness of dementia among citizens."