Seongdong-gu Supports Customized Ramp Installation for Restaurants, Cafes, and Convenience Stores

Installation of Ramps in Public Facilities Exempt from Mandatory Disabled Accessibility Installations Such as Restaurants, Cafes, and Convenience Stores
Efforts to Improve Accessibility for Mobility-Impaired and Designate Mobility-Friendly Streets for a Disabled-Friendly Seongdong City

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that starting in March, it will operate a customized ramp installation support project called ‘Everyone’s First Floor’ to improve accessibility for mobility-impaired individuals such as people with disabilities, the elderly, and pregnant women.

The Everyone’s First Floor project supports the installation of customized ramps tailored to the environment of small-scale facilities exempt from the obligation to install convenience facilities under the Act on Convenience Promotion for the Disabled, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women, enabling convenient use by wheelchair users, strollers, and others.

Prior to this, in January, Seongdong-gu became the first in the nation to enact an ordinance supporting ramp installation for people with disabilities in Seoul’s Seongdong-gu, establishing a legal basis for improving accessibility and supporting ramp installation for mobility-impaired individuals.

Starting with this customized ramp support project, the district plans to expand accessibility improvement projects aiming for a “Seongdong where everyone enjoys equality,” including restrooms and parks.

The support targets public facilities exempt from the obligation to install convenience facilities for the disabled. These include facilities in Seongdong-gu established before the enactment of the Act on Convenience Promotion for the Disabled, the Elderly, and Pregnant Women (April 11, 1998), facilities with a floor area under 300㎡ before the revision of the Enforcement Decree of the Act (May 1, 2022), and facilities with a floor area under 50㎡ after the revision. Facility owners wishing to apply can contact the Senior and Disabled Welfare Division of Seongdong-gu Office.

In particular, customized ramps will be installed focusing on facilities with high daily accessibility needs such as restaurants, cafes, and convenience stores. To encourage social participation, mobility-impaired friendly streets (stores) will be designated and actively promoted.

In April, in celebration of Disability Month, the district will conduct street promotions and campaigns to improve disability accessibility and raise social awareness in collaboration with local social organizations, youth groups, and merchant associations.

Additionally, the district will promote various projects to enhance mobility convenience for people with disabilities. Among registered disabled residents who use wheelchairs, assistive devices (wheelchair accessory cases) that are easy to attach and use will be provided. Applications will be accepted from March 7 to 18 at the local community service centers of the applicant’s jurisdiction. In July, additional electric mobility device chargers for people with disabilities will be installed at Sageun Sports Park and Salgoti Sports Park.

Seongdong-gu continues efforts to foster a culture where people with and without disabilities live together harmoniously. As of last year, six disability-friendly beauty salons have been designated and operated in five areas: Majang, Wangsimni, Geumho, Songjeong, and Seongsu, with plans to expand by five more locations within the year. These friendly salons receive support for ramp installation, provide materials to improve disability awareness, and offer comprehensive service guidebooks to ensure mobility-impaired individuals can use the salons without inconvenience.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, said, “I ask many facility owners to participate so that ordinary outings for mobility-impaired individuals can become a happy daily life. We will continue our efforts to create a better Seongdong where people with and without disabilities live together in harmony.”

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