Nowon-gu Creates a 'Healthy Senior-Friendly City' to Look Forward to Tomorrow

Re-certified by WHO Age-friendly Cities International Network and awarded 'Excellence' for Healthy Age-friendly City
Comprehensive Senior-friendly City Plan with 57 projects progressing steadily
Supporting vibrant living where aging is not a weakness, covering health, social participation, jobs, and communication

Nowon-gu, Seoul (Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is taking a step closer to becoming an elder-friendly city through various senior citizen policies being promoted in preparation for a super-aged society.

As of February 2024, the senior population residing in Nowon-gu is approximately 97,000, accounting for about 20% of the local population. With the approach of a super-aged society, the district has declared the creation of an elder-friendly city since 2019 and has been implementing various policies to support the healthy lives of seniors in the area.

The “2nd Five-Year Comprehensive Plan for an Elder-Friendly City” established by the district in 2023 includes 57 detailed projects covering all eight domains of age-friendly cities proposed by the WHO (facilities, transportation, housing, social participation, employment, social inclusion, communication, and health and care).

Among these, the “Health and Care” domain, including senior oral health projects, and the “Social Participation” domain, such as the operation of Youth Cafes, are progressing smoothly, even exceeding the original project goals.

First, the district operates the nation’s first district-run 'Nowon Senior Counseling Center.' It ensures continuity of counseling and strives to address a wide range of needs and psychological issues, from suicide and depression to sexual problems.

Additionally, the district is leading a culture of “walking,” recognized as the best exercise that does not strain the senior body. Along with improving walking environments throughout the district, walking activities are promoted with the assistance of walking activists appointed after completing a separate training course. Following a pilot operation in 10 neighborhoods last year with about 1,000 participants, the program will expand to all 19 neighborhoods this year. Seniors participating in walking activities receive continuous health management through analysis and counseling on the health benefits before and after walking exercises at the Lifelong Health Management Center operated by the public health center.

The 'Nowon Senior Rest Center,' where seniors in need of mutual care form small groups to build networks and support shared meals, is gaining attention as a project that produces complex effects on seniors’ health, welfare, and community.

The free shingles vaccination program, initially conducted for seniors aged 75 and older last year and expanded this year to include those aged 65 and older, is also highly welcomed by the elderly.

Projects supporting active social participation of seniors are also showing results. The nation’s first district-run 'Senior Employment Support Center' serves as a comprehensive employment education and counseling hub.

In addition, the dedicated agency 'Nowon Senior Happiness Corporation' for stable job creation within the district, along with the newly established 'Senior Job One-Stop Center,' began pilot operations this year.

The 'Youth Cafe,' a cultural complex community space for local seniors, operates four locations by region. Other notable projects include the 'Nowon Senior Happiness University,' which offers high-quality educational programs to prepare for a second life in old age, and the 'Nowon 5070 Talent Donation Group,' where retired seniors contribute their talents back to society. These initiatives are recognized for enriching the lives of middle-aged and senior residents through social engagement.

The district also pays close attention to managing communication channels to ensure that information about various senior support projects is accurately delivered to the target audience and operated effectively. Welfare benefit briefings are held for new seniors entering the welfare-eligible age group, and starting this year, the district launched and operates the nation’s first senior YouTube channel run by a local government.

Meanwhile, following the re-certification by the World Health Organization (WHO) of the 'Global Network for Age-friendly Cities and Communities (GNAFCC)' last year, the district received the Excellence Award at the 'Korea Healthy Age-friendly City Policy Awards' hosted by Konkuk University’s Institute for Healthy Aging and supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 7th, recognizing the excellence and achievements of its elder-friendly policies.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, said, “Preparing for a super-aged society is a challenge for all local governments nationwide, so it is meaningful that our district’s policy achievements have been recognized. We will strive to create a foundation where seniors, who make up nearly 20% of the total population, are not simply pushed to the sidelines as welfare recipients but can live healthily while looking forward to the days ahead.”