Yongin City to Install Family Shower Rooms and Restrooms for Disabled in Public Buildings

Dongbaek Comprehensive Welfare Center, Heungdeok Youth Culture House, Giheung National Sports Center, etc.
Mayor Sang-il Lee: "We will take the lead to ensure no inconvenience for the disabled and elderly"

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province announced on the 17th that it plans to install family shower rooms (changing rooms) and restrooms for the disabled and elderly in major public buildings constructed by the city in the future.

The city will first prepare related spaces in facilities with swimming pools, such as the Heungdeok Youth Culture House and Giheung National Sports Center located in Yeongdeok-dong, Giheung-gu, scheduled for completion by the end of the year, and the Dongbaek Comprehensive Welfare Center in Jung-dong, Giheung-gu, scheduled for completion in March 2026.

Perspective view of Dongbaek Comprehensive Welfare Center to be built in Jung-dong, Giheung-gu, Yongin-si. Two family shower rooms, two family changing rooms, and two family restrooms, all designed for convenient use by people with disabilities, will be installed.
[Image source=Yongin-si]

This policy reflects the difficulties expressed by teachers and parents of students with developmental disabilities at a meeting held last month by Mayor Lee Sang-il with special school and special class teachers in the district, who pointed out that it is difficult for these students to receive family assistance when using general restrooms during external activities. Mayor Lee stated, "We will provide family restrooms that are more convenient for the disabled in major new public facilities, and create spaces such as family shower rooms and changing rooms in sports facilities like swimming pools to alleviate the inconveniences faced by the disabled."

Following the mayor’s directive, the city decided to prioritize creating family spaces in public buildings under construction that can be used not only by the disabled but also by families with children, pregnant women, the elderly, and any citizens in need of assistance.

Accordingly, the Dongbaek Comprehensive Welfare Center will be equipped with two family shower rooms of 9㎡ each, two family changing rooms of 10㎡ each, and two family restrooms of 11.7㎡ each. The Dongbaek Comprehensive Welfare Center will have a total floor area of 13,027㎡ across two basement levels and five above-ground floors, and will include a swimming pool, senior welfare center, lifelong learning center, youth culture house, and daytime care facilities for the disabled.

The Heungdeok Youth Culture House and Giheung National Sports Center will also have one family shower room of 6.5㎡, one family changing room of 9㎡, and one family restroom of 8.5㎡ each. These facilities will cover a total floor area of 9,779㎡ across two basement levels and five above-ground floors, including a swimming pool and an indoor gymnasium.

In particular, the family shower rooms and changing rooms will be designed for convenient use by the disabled, with lowered showerhead holders and foldable chairs installed on the walls. Additionally, a separate space allowing wheelchair access will be provided under the changing room wardrobes.

The city also plans to install family restrooms separate from disabled restrooms in the Dongbu Regional Women’s Welfare Center (tentative name) currently being designed in Mapyeong-dong, Cheoin-gu, and the Yongin Comprehensive Environmental Education Center in Yuwon-ri, Pogok-eup, Cheoin-gu.

Mayor Lee said, "From the design competition stage onward, we plan to meticulously incorporate convenience facilities such as family restrooms in public buildings frequently used by the disabled and elderly, ensuring that the disabled, elderly, pregnant women, and caregivers with infants can use them comfortably."