Nowon-gu Removes Stone Bumps Restricting Mobility Rights of Disabled People

Operation of 61 Rapid Chargers for Electric Mobility Devices, the Most Among Autonomous Districts, with Plans for Additional Installations This Year
Expansion of Insurance Coverage for Electric Mobility Devices, Committed to Enhancing Mobility Rights for the Disabled
Hosting Disabled Invitation Events at Snow Sledding Parks, Leading the Way in Creating Disability-Friendly Cities

Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) announced that it is transforming into a city where various inconveniences restricting the mobility of people with disabilities are eliminated, allowing them to move around without worry.

The district is fully committed to promoting projects that guarantee mobility rights directly linked to the survival rights of people with disabilities, following the declaration of a comprehensive plan vision to enhance convenience for people with disabilities and create a happy, discrimination-free, disability-friendly city for all.

The district’s projects to assist the mobility of people with disabilities who find outdoor activities difficult include ▲installation of rapid chargers for electric assistive devices ▲support for repair costs of mobility devices (including manual wheelchairs) ▲expansion of insurance coverage for electric assistive devices for people with disabilities.

Electric assistive devices refer to electric equipment that helps people with mobility difficulties, such as electric wheelchairs and electric scooters. As a result of continuously expanding rapid chargers for electric assistive devices, as of June 2023, the district operates 61 locations, accounting for about 10% of the 670 locations installed in Seoul.

As of 2023, the district has identified a total of 1,225 users of electric assistive devices residing in the area.

These chargers are mainly installed at institutions and organizations frequently visited by people with disabilities, barrier-free walking trails (Mujanghae Forest Trails) accessible to people with disabilities, subway stations, and parks, alleviating concerns about charging electric assistive devices during outdoor activities. The district plans to actively respond to demand by adding two more locations in 2024 based on reports from the Disability-Friendly City Monitoring Team and feedback from disabled residents.

If electric assistive devices or manual wheelchairs break down, they can be quickly repaired through seven companies partnered with the district. The repair cost support, which began in 2021, has received great enthusiasm and interest from people with disabilities, with the number of supported cases surpassing 1,000 last year.

Insurance premiums are also supported for accidents occurring during the operation of electric assistive devices. Since 2022, Nowon-gu has been the first autonomous district in Seoul to enroll in insurance for electric assistive devices. Registered disabled residents of Nowon-gu automatically receive insurance coverage without a separate enrollment process. This year, the district is reducing the out-of-pocket expense for the disabled from 50,000 KRW to 30,000 KRW while increasing the compensation limit up to 50 million KRW to ease the financial burden on accident victims.

The district plans to invite people with disabilities and their families to the Nowon Snow Sledding Park on February 1, 2024, offering a special day for those who usually find outdoor activities difficult.

Oh Seung-rok, Mayor of Nowon-gu, stated, “The mobility rights of people with disabilities are significant as they broaden the points of contact between people with disabilities and the world, serving as a starting point to enjoy other fundamental rights. We will continue to inspect and fix any obstacles blocking the mobility of people with disabilities in Nowon, a city where people want to walk and enjoy walking.”

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