Yongin City Introduces 'Priority Assistance' Service at Self-Service Gas Stations for People with Disabilities

Staff Assistance Available at Over 50 Locations When QR Code Is Scanned
Mayor Lee Sangil: "We Will Develop Improvements by Reflecting On-Site Feedback"

Kim, a 56-year-old who experiences discomfort in his left leg and arm due to aftereffects of a stroke, finds refueling at gas stations to be a greater challenge than driving itself. Most gas stations near his home are self-service, making every refueling experience difficult. Because one of his hands is impaired, he is always anxious about possibly making a mistake while operating the fuel pump.

Yongin City in Gyeonggi Province is drawing attention for introducing a policy to support people like Kim?individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable groups who face difficulties using self-service gas stations. On June 5, Yongin City announced that starting from June 11, it will implement the "Priority Assistance Refueling Service" for self-service gas station users with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.

This service was introduced because the proportion of self-service gas stations in the city has increased to 131 out of 189 stations, or about 70%, leading to a rise in the number of people with disabilities who have difficulty with mobility or operating the equipment. Eligible users include people with disabilities and pregnant women, and the system provides staff assistance to help them refuel conveniently.

To facilitate this, the city has partnered with about 50 self-service gas stations to establish a call system based on QR codes. When customers scan the QR code attached to the fuel pump with their smartphones, a call is placed to the gas station, and a staff member comes out to assist with refueling. The city plans to expand this service to more than 70 stations.

This project is being carried out using 20 million won in national funding secured by participating in a public contest held by the Korea Disabled People’s Development Institute in April. The Giheung Welfare Center for the Disabled is responsible for implementing the project, ensuring that the needs of people with disabilities at gas stations are reflected in its operation.

Lee Sangil, Mayor of Yongin, stated, "Now that we have established a system to help those who have difficulty refueling by themselves, we will ensure smooth operation of the project to increase user satisfaction," adding, "We also plan to develop improvements by reflecting feedback from the field."

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