Ryukyung-gi Jungnang-gu Mayor's 'Love for the Disabled' Feels Real On Site?

Free shuttle bus service for transportation-vulnerable groups including disabled, elderly, and pregnant women... Operation of Jungnang Disabled Family Support Center and establishment of Jungnang District Disabled Sports Association... 2nd Jungnang District Disabled Job Fair scheduled for September... Barrier-free forest trails for disabled, children, and elderly created at Yongmasan and Bonghwasan

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu (left), is assisting a disabled person in boarding by pushing a wheelchair at the test ride ceremony commemorating the replacement of new vehicles for the free shuttle bus for the transportation disadvantaged in Jungnang-gu last year.

Ryu Kyung-gi, Mayor of Jungnang-gu, is touring the Bonghwasan Barrier-Free Forest Trail site (right).

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is accelerating the creation of comprehensive welfare infrastructure for people with disabilities, covering employment, care, and convenience enhancement.

This is one of the key pledges of Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi's 7th term.

Looking at the disability policies the district has promoted so far, first, in February this year, the 'Disability Mobility Device Repair Center' was established and began operation in Junghwa-dong to guarantee mobility rights and convenience for local people with disabilities.

By efficiently providing mobility device repairs and expanding services, it is expected to reduce economic burdens and improve daily convenience.

The 'Jungnang Disabled Family Support Center,' which began operation in 2019 for families of people with disabilities, was expanded and relocated to Sinnae Desiang Plex in November last year, newly equipped with classrooms and counseling rooms for parent education and various programs, enabling support not only for people with disabilities themselves but also for their families.

Going forward, continuous welfare improvements will be pursued by expanding necessary facilities for people with disabilities.

In June last year, to enhance mobility convenience and provide social participation opportunities for transportation-vulnerable groups such as the elderly, people with disabilities, and pregnant women, two free shuttle buses for the elderly and other transportation-vulnerable groups were replaced with new ultra-low-floor vehicles. In October, 14 additional stops were added through route changes reflecting user feedback, allowing more transportation-vulnerable individuals to use the free shuttle buses without inconvenience.

Also, in October last year, the 'Jungnang-gu Disabled Sports Association' was established to promote health and sound leisure activities for people with disabilities, with an office opening ceremony scheduled for April this year.

The Disabled Sports Association will support a healthy and vibrant life for people with disabilities through various programs such as aquatic exercise programs, recreational sports programs, and participation support for events like the Seoul Disabled Sports Competition.

Additionally, this year, 161 participants will be selected for the 'Disability Employment' program, an increase of about 20% compared to the previous year, with plans to increase by approximately 20% annually.

Furthermore, the '2nd Jungnang-gu Disability Employment Fair' will be held around September to provide a meeting place for employers and job seekers, especially for people with disabilities who find employment relatively difficult.

Moreover, the district is creating a 3.12 km 'Barrier-Free Forest Trail' on Bonghwasan Mountain accessible to wheelchairs and strollers by December this year. The 3.8 km barrier-free forest trail on Yongmasan Mountain has already been established and is well-loved by residents. All sections have a gentle slope with a maximum gradient of 8.3%, allowing people with disabilities, pregnant women, the elderly, and anyone to easily climb the mountain.

Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi of Jungnang-gu said, “We will do our best to create a Jungnang-gu where people with and without disabilities coexist and thrive together, making it a better and happier place for all residents.”

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