Gwanak-gu Wins Encouragement Award for Outstanding “Dementia-Friendly City” Policy

All 21 Neighborhoods Designated as Dementia Safe Villages
285 Dementia Safe Partner Stores Established

Gwanak-gu, Seoul, announced on the 15th that it had received the Encouragement Award at the 2026 Outstanding Administration and Policy Case Selection Competition, hosted by the Korea Public Policy Evaluation Association on the 14th, for its case of “Building the Nation’s Largest Dementia-Friendly City Based on Resident Participation.”

Group photo commemorating the Excellence Award at the 2026 Gwanak-gu Outstanding Administration and Policy Case Selection Competition. Provided by Gwanak-gu.

This competition selects and awards outstanding cases by comprehensively evaluating the originality, efficiency, problem-solving suitability, and performance and sustainability of policies, as assessed by a panel of judges composed of administrative practitioners and academic experts.

The district was highly recognized for viewing dementia not as an individual or family issue, but as a challenge to be addressed collectively by the local community, and for establishing a safety net centered on resident participation.

The district’s flagship initiative is the “Dementia Safe Playground (No Li Do),” the first outdoor experiential cognitive training program introduced in Korea. By combining outdoor play with cognitive and physical activities, the program improved accessibility and led to increased participation and early detection of dementia.

Gwanak-gu also established the nation’s largest dementia safety network with participation from both residents and institutions. The district designated all 21 administrative neighborhoods as Dementia Safe Villages and created a public-private cooperation system involving resident representatives, local shops, senior centers, and public agencies. Gwanak-gu secured 285 dementia safe partner stores and 179 organizations leading dementia awareness efforts. The expansion from the original five Dementia Safe Villages to all 21 neighborhoods, thereby establishing a sustainable, resident-driven model, was also recognized.

A district official stated, “This award is the result of joint efforts between residents and the local community. It is especially meaningful as it recognizes the creation of an environment where dementia patients and their families can live with peace of mind.” The official added, “We will continue to expand a dementia-friendly environment centered on residents, so that everyone in the community can remember, care for one another, and live happily without worry.”

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