Yangju City Opens "Insaengmaru-Maegok" Senior Center Featuring Universal Design for the Elderly

First in Gyeonggi Province
Creating a Tailored Environment for the Elderly

On November 19, Yangju City in Gyeonggi Province held the opening ceremony for the "Insaengmaru-Maegok" project, an environment improvement initiative for senior centers applying universal design, at the Maegok-ri Senior Center in Nam-myeon.

Suhyun Kang, Mayor of Yangju City (fifth from the right), is cutting the ribbon at the opening ceremony of the 'Life Maru-Maegok' senior center environment improvement project applying universal design at the Maegok-ri senior center in Nam-myeon on the 19th. Provided by Yangju City

This project has been implemented in phases since 2023 to enhance safety, convenience, and accessibility for the elderly and to create a user-centered living environment.

Approximately 50 people attended the opening ceremony, including Yangju City Mayor Suhyun Kang, members of the city council, senior center users, local residents, and project stakeholders.

Attendees toured the completed facility to experience the improved environment and shared their appreciation for the collaboration among public officials, residents, and experts throughout the project.

This initiative was selected for the 2024 Gyeonggi Province Universal Design Competition for Transportation-Vulnerable Groups. It is characterized by its detailed design, which closely reflects the actual living patterns and needs of senior center users through user participation workshops, surveys, and expert advisory meetings.

In particular, the project incorporated features such as reorganized movement lines for easier mobility, anti-slip facilities to prevent falls, highly visible guidance signs, safety handrails, and improved layouts for cooking and communal spaces. Throughout the process, residents' feedback was continuously collected and reflected in the design.

Additionally, the creation of the "Universal Design Guideline Book" is being recognized as a practical foundation for expanding universal design to other local community facilities, such as aging senior centers and village halls, in the future.

A Yangju City official stated, "The Maegok-ri Senior Center is significant as the first pilot project in Gyeonggi Province to apply universal design. Based on the newly developed guideline book, we will continue to expand universal design policies so that all citizens can enjoy a safe and comfortable living environment."

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