Opening of Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center

A total project cost of 7.7 billion KRW invested, total floor area 697.84㎡, scale from basement 1 to ground 6 floors

Construction of a complex facility for the disabled including a Sign Language Interpretation Center, Deaf Shelter, Disabled Family Support Center, and Multipurpose Education Room

Realizing inclusive spatial welfare for all with Senior Citizens' Hall, 50 Plus Center, and Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town

Park Jun-hee, the mayor of Gwanak-gu, is touring the Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center, which he inaugurated.

Gwanak-gu (Mayor Park Junhee) has established the ‘Gwanak-gu Disabled Happiness Center’ for people with disabilities and their families.

Gwanak-gu ranks sixth among Seoul’s autonomous districts in terms of disabled population, with about 50,000 disabled family members residing, yet related facilities were insufficient.

Accordingly, the district invested a total project cost of 7.7 billion KRW to build a complex facility for the disabled with a total floor area of 697.84㎡, spanning from basement level 1 to ground level 6.

First, the Sign Language Interpretation Center (2nd floor) and Deaf Shelter (3rd floor), aimed at improving the rights of the deaf, provide new activities for hearing and speech-impaired individuals who have faced difficulties using general welfare facilities due to communication issues. The existing Gwanak Disabled Family Support Center, located at 1808 Nambusunhwan-ro, will be relocated to the 5th floor.

The Disabled Family Support Center plans to operate policies more systematically and stably to alleviate the social and psychological burdens experienced by disabled individuals and their families, including parent counseling, family rest support, disability awareness improvement, and emergency care for severely disabled persons.

Additionally, the 4th and 6th floors have been equipped with classrooms for various programs and educational activities. Official operations will begin on the 24th, with operating hours from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays.

At the opening ceremony held on the 18th, Park Junhee, Mayor of Gwanak-gu, stated, “We will listen more closely to the voices of people with disabilities and prepare policies for a better life for disabled individuals and their families. Going forward, we will create a ‘Together Leading Gwanak’ where all residents can live happily as equal members of the community.”

The district is striving to expand various inclusive spaces and realize a warm Gwanak community.

The ‘Senior Citizens' Hall and 50 Plus Center,’ which supports hobbies for the elderly and social participation activities for middle-aged and older adults before and after retirement, is accelerating its project with the goal of completion this year. The district is also promoting the ‘District-run Senior Comprehensive Welfare Town’ and ‘Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town’ to reduce regional disparities.

In particular, the Gwanak Cultural Welfare Town, a welfare, culture, and sports complex facility, will begin construction next month with a target completion in 2025. With a total investment of 22.4 billion KRW, it will include a living culture and social welfare center from basement 1 to ground 3 floors, and a multipurpose gymnasium with table tennis, basketball, and fitness facilities from ground 4 to 6 floors, playing a significant role in meeting residents’ welfare, cultural, and health needs.

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