A New Senior Center Opens in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu
Duteopbawi Senior Center Created by Remodeling an Idle Daycare Facility
Plans to Launch the First “Smart Senior Center” in Hannam-dong Next Month
Yongsan-gu in Seoul has opened the newly established Duteopbawi Senior Center, located at 28 Duteopbawi-ro 31-gil in Huam-dong. This is the second public senior center to open in Yongsan-gu this year.
On the 23rd, more than 60 people, including Deputy District Mayor Changseok Lee, President of the Yongsan-gu Branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, district council members, and local elders, attended the opening ceremony of Duteopbawi Senior Center. Provided by Yongsan-gu.
The Duteopbawi Senior Center was created by remodeling a former daycare center building. It is considered a good example of efficiently utilizing unused space. The facility is recognized as a meaningful space in terms of sharing and circulating resources between generations. The center has a total floor area of 226.57 square meters and consists of two above-ground floors. It is equipped with basic amenities such as a living room, kitchen, and restrooms for daily use by seniors. In the yard, exercise equipment and a rest area have been installed, allowing seniors to enjoy light outdoor exercise or casual conversation.
At the opening ceremony on the 23rd, more than 60 people attended, including Deputy District Mayor Changseok Lee, the President of the Yongsan-gu Branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, district council members, and local elders. Even before its opening, the center had already attracted significant interest from local seniors. The district plans to expand operations to the second floor of the facility in the second half of this year. Duteopbawi Senior Center will regularly offer a variety of programs to support the physical and emotional well-being of seniors, such as health exercises and digital drawing.
Meanwhile, the district plans to establish its first “Smart Senior Center” next month at Maebong Senior Center (32 Hannam-daero 40-gil) in Hannam-dong. The new center will feature a health management and leisure activity support system that incorporates digital technologies, such as smart work and automatic emergency reporting functions. The district also plans to create a continuous communication channel with seniors by holding rotating meetings at key senior centers in each local community center.
Park Heeyoung, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, stated, “The current reality, where the number of children is decreasing and the number of seniors is increasing, is an important challenge facing our society. In response to these changes, I hope this space, converted from a daycare center to a senior center, will become a new haven and a vibrant hub for the daily lives of our seniors.”
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