Seongdong-gu Expands Distribution of “Smart IoT Devices” to Prevent Missing Persons with Disabilities

Recruitment of Participants Open Until the 20th

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Jung Wonoh), will further distribute “Smart IoT Devices” capable of real-time location tracking to prevent missing persons with disabilities and support their adaptation to the local community.

Recruitment Poster for Business Participants. Provided by Seongdong-gu.

The “Missing Person Prevention Smart IoT Distribution Project” provides GPS-based Smart IoT devices to people with disabilities who are at risk of getting lost, helping them live safely when going out alone or participating in social activities. Guardians can check precise location information in real time through a dedicated application.

This enables a swift response and early discovery in the event of a disappearance, providing a practical safety net for both people with disabilities and their families. For example, a 36-year-old resident of Seongsu-dong with developmental disabilities, surnamed Kim, was quickly found after getting lost on the way to a vocational training facility, thanks to a location departure alert sent to the guardian’s mobile phone.

From 2020 to 2024, Seongdong-gu distributed a total of 237 Smart IoT devices to people with disabilities in the area, working to prevent missing person cases. This year, the district further strengthened its support for preventing missing persons with developmental disabilities by also distributing the Bluetooth-based location tracking device “Galaxy SmartTag2.” The distributed devices can be used free of charge for two years, after which continued use is available for a monthly fee of 3,300 won.

Applications to participate in the “Smart IoT Distribution Project” are open until the 20th and can be submitted via the Seongdong Disabled Family Support Center website or by scanning the QR code on the promotional poster.

Jung Wonoh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “We hope that the distribution of missing person prevention Smart IoT devices will help improve the independence and safety of people with developmental disabilities, while also alleviating the care-related burdens and difficulties faced by their guardians.”