The Seoul city government said on the 16th that it will add 12 more senior playgrounds by next year. It is currently operating 13 sites, and with the additions, the plan is to run one in each of the 25 autonomous districts.
Senior playgrounds are equipped with exercise machines that support balance and flexibility and strengthen joint health needed for daily life. They include a hand cycle to increase muscle strength, a stepping-stone crossing to build cognition, and a snake-bridge crossing to develop balance. The first one opened in Guro District in 2022.
The Seoul city government recently decided to add senior playgrounds in light of aging and satisfaction among existing users. It will first add seven sites by the end of this year and build five more next year.
Yun Jong-jang, head of welfare at the Seoul city government, said, "Senior playgrounds go beyond a simple exercise space to energize seniors' lives and serve as a community-based welfare space that fosters warm communication," adding, "We will pursue multifaceted senior policies to help ensure a healthier, more vibrant old age."