Hoengseong County to Distribute 3,000 Senior Safety Canes with Nighttime LED Lights to Prevent Falls

Equipped with LED Lights and Anti-Slip Features for Icy Roads
Specialized Anti-Slip Items Provided
to Prevent Winter Falls

Hoengseong County in Gangwon Province is launching a large-scale initiative to provide safety items in order to prevent falls among elderly pedestrians who are vulnerable during winter and to strengthen its safety infrastructure as an age-friendly city.

Aerial view of Hoengseong County Office.

The Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and Hoengseong County announced that they will hold the "Age-Friendly City Senior Safety Cane Distribution" event at 2:00 p.m. on January 12 at Hoengseong County Sports Complex. This initiative was prepared to ensure the mobility and safety of elderly residents with walking difficulties, in response to the increasing proportion of the elderly population in the province.

A total of 3,000 specialized safety canes will be distributed, each equipped with LED lights for nighttime walking and anti-slip features for icy roads. On December 29 of last year, Hoengseong County conducted a pilot distribution of 150 canes at the Gongeun-ri Senior Center. Through this main distribution, the county plans to deliver the canes to 192 senior centers and the Senior College of the Hoengseong County branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association.

To maximize efficiency, the distribution will be carried out in cooperation with the Hoengseong County branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association. The items will first be delivered to the heads of senior subcommittees in each town and township, who will then ensure swift distribution to each village senior center. Staff from the Hoengseong County Disaster and Safety Division will be present on-site to support smooth delivery of the items.

Choi Yoonjeong, head of the Disaster and Safety Division, stated, "The purpose of distributing these safety items is to reduce the risk of accidents on icy roads during winter and to make a tangible improvement to the walking environment for seniors. We will continue to develop practical safety policies that are in line with our status as a WHO-designated age-friendly city."

Meanwhile, since being designated as a WHO age-friendly city in February 2024, Hoengseong County has achieved various policy outcomes to improve the quality of life for the elderly, working in cooperation with Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province and other local governments.