Where Are the Chargers When an Electric Wheelchair Stops?

Only 4,027 Charging Stations Nationwide
Just 1% of Electric Vehicle Charger Numbers
Many Are Hidden Away in Remote Corners

Kim Minseong (48), whom we met in front of a welfare center in Jung-gu, Seoul, recently experienced his electric wheelchair coming to a halt. Normally, he charges his wheelchair before going to bed at night, but on that particular day, he forgot. When his electric wheelchair, which essentially serves as his legs, stopped working, he found himself stranded and unable to move.

He tried searching for nearby charging facilities on his mobile phone, but there was nowhere he could go immediately. Kim said, "I felt as if I was trapped in the middle of the street," adding, "I urgently contacted my family and barely managed to get out of the situation."

The rapid charger for electric mobility aids set up at the entrance of the Disabled Welfare Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, on the 23rd. Photo by Seungwook Park

Although the number of people using electric mobility aids such as electric wheelchairs and electric scooters is increasing, a lack of infrastructure, including charging facilities, is restricting users' mobility.

According to the National Health Insurance Service on the 26th, the agency provides up to 90% of the purchase cost for electric mobility aids to people with limited mobility, such as amputees, people with joint disabilities, and those with brain lesions. Last year, the number of cases supported by the agency was 8,047, an increase of about 1,000 from the previous year (7,085), and the amount of support also rose from 11.5 billion won to 14.6 billion won during the same period.

Despite the growing number of electric mobility aid users, the expansion of charging infrastructure has been slow. As of April this year, there were 4,027 rapid chargers for electric mobility aids installed nationwide. Most of these are concentrated in public facilities such as subway stations, community centers, and welfare centers.

This is far from sufficient compared to the 417,437 electric vehicle chargers installed nationwide. The Act on Convenience Promotion for Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly and Pregnant Women stipulates that public buildings and public-use facilities should be equipped with mobility aid charging facilities, but this is only a recommendation, not a legal requirement.

Due to the shortage of charging facilities, users of electric mobility aids cannot move freely. Ha (60), who lives in Yaksu-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul, said, "Because charging facilities are not available everywhere, it's hard to travel with peace of mind," adding, "Whenever I go somewhere new, I always check where the chargers are, but since only a few public facilities have them, I always feel anxious." Ha also said, "There are chargers in subway stations, but honestly, I use the call taxis for people with disabilities more often than the subway, so if charging facilities were installed in more places, it would make traveling much more convenient."

A bicycle is placed in front of the electric mobility device rapid charger set up near Doseon-dong Community Center in Seongdong-gu, Seoul on the 23rd. Photo by Park Seungwook

It takes 5 to 10 hours to charge an electric mobility aid with a standard charger. However, with rapid chargers installed at subway stations and public institutions, a full charge is possible in just one hour. The more rapid chargers there are, as with electric vehicles, the more users' right to mobility is guaranteed.

However, the problem is that there are not enough rapid chargers, and it is difficult to find their exact locations. Information available through platforms such as Seoul Smart Map only tells you whether a charger exists in a particular building or subway station. Users must find the specific location themselves.

Charging facilities for electric mobility aids are often installed alongside other facilities, making them hard to spot. At Doseon-dong Community Center and Sangwangsimni Station in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, for example, chargers are installed next to book return boxes. For someone who has never used them before, they can be very difficult to find. One electric wheelchair user said, "Most of the time, I look for a charging facility when my battery is running low and I'm in a hurry. In such situations, if I'm in an unfamiliar place, I usually end up wandering around trying to find one."

Because of poor accessibility, the areas around charging facilities are often not properly managed. When the reporter checked, the charging facility at Doseon-dong Community Center was blocked by strollers and bicycles. Kim Hyunseop (55), an electric wheelchair user, said, "There are times when I go to charge and find the area blocked by someone's belongings. If people would park right up to the edge of the charging facility, it would be easier for both users and passersby, but since that's not the case, it's inconvenient for everyone."

Kim Sungyeon, head of the Disability Discrimination Act Solidarity Counseling Center, said, "As electric mobility aids are now used not only by people with disabilities but also by the elderly in daily life, the issue of insufficient charging facilities will continue to arise," adding, "Even if we can't reach the level of electric vehicle chargers, there needs to be a much wider range of charging facilities for electric mobility aids in various places."

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