Gwanak-gu Disabled Center Construction Begins... Opening Scheduled for First Half of Next Year

A Total Project Cost of 6.1 Billion KRW Invested, New Construction from Basement 1 to 6th Floor on Current Sign Language Interpretation Center Site... 2nd to 4th Floors for Sign Language Interpretation Center and Deaf Shelter, 5th to 6th Floors for Disabled Family Support Center

Perspective View of Gwanak-gu Disabled Center

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Jun-hee) is accelerating the construction of a complex facility tentatively named Gwanak-gu Disabled Center for the deaf community and 50,000 families with disabilities in the area.

Gwanak-gu ranks sixth among Seoul’s autonomous districts in terms of disabled population, with more than 20,000 disabled individuals and about 50,000 families of disabled persons residing there; however, facilities for families of disabled people are insufficient.

Accordingly, the district announced that it is proceeding with this project to improve the rights of the deaf, who have difficulty communicating, and to contribute to enhancing the quality of life for disabled people by building a complex facility including a resting place for the deaf and a support center for families with disabilities to promote healthy and stable living.

The tentatively named Gwanak-gu Disabled Center will be built at 128 Ssukgogae-ro, Gwanak-gu, on the current site of the Sign Language Interpretation Center, familiar to existing users and conveniently accessible by transportation, with a total floor area of 785㎡ and consisting of one basement floor and six above-ground floors.

Last year, the district completed the establishment of the basic plan and the purchase of the site, which was city-owned land, and held a design competition in November. A total of eight entries were submitted and applied for, and on the 28th of last month, the winning design was announced and a total prize of 10 million KRW was awarded to four winning works.

In early February, the district plans to proceed with the contract for the winning design and design services, start construction in August, and aim to open the facility in the first half of 2022.

A total project cost of 6.1 billion KRW will be invested, with the 2nd to 4th floors housing the Sign Language Interpretation Center and a resting place for the deaf staffed by sign language interpreters, and the 5th and 6th floors accommodating the support center for families with disabilities.

In particular, since the deaf face difficulties using general welfare and disability facilities due to communication barriers, the construction of this complex facility is expected to greatly contribute to improving the quality of life for the deaf and families with disabilities.

Mayor Park Jun-hee said, “Through the construction of the tentatively named Gwanak-gu Disabled Center, we will address the diverse needs of disabled people and their families and contribute to strengthening their capabilities,” adding, “We will continue to expand various infrastructures and implement customized support policies so that all disabled people and their families in the region can live happily.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.