Meticulous Support for Seniors with Silver Car Program... Nowon-gu Plays a Key Role

Strengthening Customized Policies for Seniors
Silver Car Support, Distribution of Glow-in-the-Dark Safety Stickers,
and Operation of a YouTube Channel Exclusively for Seniors

Nowon-gu (District Mayor Oh Seungrok) announced that it is strengthening a variety of customized policies to ensure that seniors can lead safe and dignified lives, as the district has entered a super-aged society.

According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, as of December 23, 2024, the proportion of people aged 65 and older in South Korea exceeded 20%, marking the country's entry into a super-aged society. As of March 2025, the population of seniors aged 65 and older in Nowon-gu is approximately 101,000, accounting for 20% of the district's total population.

Aging brings with it physical and environmental limitations, such as restricted mobility and increased risk of accidents. In particular, the sense of isolation caused by disconnection from the outside world leads to complex issues across physical, psychological, and social dimensions. In response, the district is implementing customized policies to improve the quality of life for seniors.

First, to support outdoor activities for seniors with limited mobility and to prevent isolation from neighbors, the district is promoting a Silver Car support program. The Silver Car is a walking aid for the elderly, helping to expand their range of activity and receiving a positive response. Each year, more than 200 units are provided free of charge to vulnerable seniors with mobility difficulties, and this year, the district plans to distribute approximately 250 units at no cost.

In addition, since April, the district has been producing and distributing glow-in-the-dark safety stickers that can be attached to Silver Cars. These stickers use reflective materials to ensure that Silver Cars are easily visible even in low-light conditions, helping to prevent collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.

The district also operates a dedicated call center for seniors, making it easy for them to access essential information. The call center allows seniors to quickly resolve inquiries related to jobs, welfare services, and health management with just a single phone call, without the need to visit in person.

Lastly, the district is running a YouTube channel exclusively for seniors called "100-Year Youth" (hereafter referred to as 100-Year Youth). The channel provides a variety of videos to help seniors easily access information closely related to their daily lives. To improve accessibility for seniors who are not familiar with digital environments, the district actively visits community senior centers to provide guidance on how to watch the channel.

As of April 2025, "100-Year Youth" has surpassed 6,020 subscribers and is gaining popularity with its customized content for seniors. The channel offers a wide range of content, from easy-to-follow exercise videos such as health gymnastics and chair exercises, to practical information like news about the opening of park golf courses and free shingles vaccination announcements. In particular, exercise videos set to popular trot songs such as "Hongsi," "Pyeonghaengseon," and "Saranga" have received an enthusiastic response, with some videos reaching up to 110,000 views.

In addition, the district is promoting various customized policies that reflect diverse needs, such as establishing the new concept public Surak Senior Welfare Center with functions spanning education, hobbies, and health; operating senior dining halls that ensure nutritious meals for the elderly; running the Nowon Senior Counseling Center, which addresses issues such as suicide, depression, and sexual health in old age; and the Nowon Senior Club, which provides job opportunities for seniors.

Oh Seungrok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, "Providing dedicated services for seniors is not simply a welfare project, but a part of our social responsibility," adding, "We will continue to implement a variety of policies to ensure that seniors can actively engage with the community and lead happy lives."