Seoul City Provides Electric Wheelchairs to Pedestrian Traffic Accident Disabled... Up to 2.75 Million KRW Per Person

Review of Selection Criteria Including Degree of Disability from Traffic Accidents, Economic Status, and Level of Social Activity... 100 People Selected
Efforts to Strengthen Traffic Safety and Support Pedestrians with Disabilities

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] On the 13th, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the T-money Welfare Foundation announced that they will promote an electric wheelchair support project to help Seoul citizens who have become disabled due to unexpected traffic accidents reintegrate into society and alleviate their economic burdens.

The support target includes any disabled person registered as a resident in Seoul who has a walking disability caused by a traffic accident. Applicants must submit ▲proof of the traffic accident ▲whether regular mobility is necessary due to work, study, vocational training, etc. ▲degree of walking disability ▲whether they are basic livelihood security recipients or belong to the lower-income bracket. These factors will be comprehensively reviewed to select 100 beneficiaries.

Applications will be accepted by the Korea Transportation Disabled Association from the 14th until July 29. For the convenience of walking-disabled individuals, applications can be submitted by mail or email, and application forms are provided on the Korea Transportation Disabled Association’s website.

If selected as a beneficiary, applicants can choose from electric wheelchairs provided by participating companies in the project, and if necessary, add options tailored to their convenience. The maximum support amount upon acquisition is 2.75 million KRW. Selected disabled individuals can choose a wheelchair model from participating companies and add convenience options according to their disability level if needed. If the total purchase price of the electric wheelchair exceeds the individual support limit of 2.75 million KRW, the applicant must cover the excess cost.

The electric wheelchair support project is conducted using funds from the T-money Welfare Foundation according to Seoul city’s plan, with the Korea Transportation Disabled Association handling the practical work. Seoul city establishes the overall project plan and forms a selection committee for electric wheelchair beneficiaries composed of experts in disability rehabilitation and social welfare fields. The committee will review documents and conduct evaluations to select recipients.

Meanwhile, this support project is meaningful as it is the first to be implemented under the leadership of Seoul city. It is the result of actively discovering projects to support walking-disabled individuals caused by traffic accidents. As the second project of the newly launched “Companionship for the Vulnerable” transportation initiative starting in June, phased citizen-centered projects will be implemented in the future.

Baek Ho, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government’s Urban Transportation Office, said, “The electric wheelchair support project, which is being implemented for the first time by the city, helps those who have become disabled due to unexpected traffic accidents engage in social and economic activities, embodying Seoul city’s policy direction of companionship with the vulnerable. We will not only prioritize strengthening traffic safety to prevent traffic accidents but also actively strive to provide mobility convenience and detailed support for disabled individuals.”

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