Seoul Subway Station Health Stairs Play a Vital Role in Medical Expenses for Low-Income Vulnerable Groups

Donation Ceremony Held for Funds Raised Through 'Art Health Staircase' at Gangnam-gu Office Station
530,282 Citizens Used the Staircase in 2024, Raising a Total of 10.7 Million KRW
Over the Past 8 Years, 4 Million People Have Used the 'Art Health Staircase,' Accumulating 70 Million KRW in Donations

Seoul Metro (President Baek Ho) and 365mc Co., Ltd. (CEO Kim Nam-cheol) held a donation ceremony on the 21st at Gangnam-gu Office Station and announced that they had donated 10.7 million KRW collected through the ‘Art Health Staircase’ at Gangnam-gu Office Station to the Community Chest of Korea (Chairman Kim Byung-joon).

The donation delivered to the Community Chest of Korea through the ceremony is planned to be used for medical expenses for low-income vulnerable groups. In 2024, more than 530,000 citizens used the Art Health Staircase. The donations raised throughout 2024 by citizens’ footsteps reached 10.7 million KRW.

This year, the funds will be used to help low-income vulnerable patients through the Community Chest of Korea. It aims to provide opportunities for those who urgently need treatment but cannot receive it in time due to financial difficulties, supporting them to become healthy members of society.

The Metro and 365mc Co., Ltd. agreed to support socially marginalized groups and jointly installed the ‘Art Health Staircase’ at Gangnam-gu Office Station on Line 7, where donations accumulate according to the number of people using the stairs. The Art Health Staircase features artworks by active artists, and 365mc Co., Ltd. donates 20 KRW for each citizen who uses the stairs, thereby raising donation funds together.

The ‘Art Health Staircase’ displays works by Western painter JAIM and photographer Hong Sung-yong, allowing users to enjoy art while climbing the stairs.

Initially, the agreement set donations at 10 KRW per person, but from the third year of operation, it was changed to 20 KRW per person to strengthen social contribution activities.

Over the past eight years, about 400 million citizens have used the ‘Art Health Staircase,’ raising donations amounting to 70 million KRW. The Metro and 365mc Co., Ltd. have continued to support socially marginalized groups through various donation channels over the past eight years by gathering citizens’ footsteps. Representative projects include emergency medical expense support for crisis families, installation of electric wheelchair charging stations, and support for securing mobility rights for the disabled.

Nine Ho, head of public relations at Seoul Metro, said, “Each step taken by citizens in their daily lives over the past year has returned as a warm touch toward low-income vulnerable groups,” and added, “We will continue to strive to deliver warmth throughout society through various social contribution activities accompanying the vulnerable, including donations through the Art Health Staircase.”