Busan is good

Move-in Ceremony Held for the “Busan-Style Habitat Challenge Project” to Create Age-Friendly Housing in Collaboration with the Local Community

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that a move-in ceremony for the “Busan-Style Habitat Challenge Project,” aimed at improving the housing environment for vulnerable seniors in partnership with the local community, was held yesterday (June 26) in Uam-dong, Nam-gu.

The event was attended by over 100 participants, including the new residents and their families, city officials, the Mayor of Nam-gu, a pastor from Sooyoungro Church, and local residents, all gathered to celebrate the occasion.

Event Overview

• ●Date/Time & Location: Thursday, 26 June 2025, 15:00 / Uam-dong, Nam-gu (near Busan Sungji Church)

• ●Participants: Director General of Social Welfare, Busan Metropolitan City; Mayor of Nam-gu; Pastor from Sooyoungro Church; and others

• ●Main Activities: Project report, commemorative speech and congratulatory remarks, ribbon-cutting ceremony, and site tour

The “Busan-Style Habitat Challenge” is a home-improvement initiative inspired by the Ice Bucket Challenge. Through a relay of private donations from companies and individuals, the project transforms old and worn-out houses into safe, convenient, and elderly-friendly living environments.

Beginning with KB Kookmin Bank, the donation relay has expanded to include Dongil Corporation, BTS member Jimin, Deutsche Motors, and Sooyoungro Church. Their contributions have helped renovate homes for low-income seniors, converting them into customized living spaces that meet their specific needs.

The home in Uam-dong, Nam-gu, selected for this round, was transformed through financial support from Sooyoungro Church to provide the elderly resident with a more comfortable living space.

Based on a professional pre-assessment, the renovation included

• ●flattening the main entrance floor,

• ●eliminating height differences inside the home,

• ●modernizing the kitchen and bathroom,

• ●relocating and improving bathroom facilities (including installation of a new sink and shower area),

• ●replacing interior finishes, improving insulation, and installing a hot-water tank, and

• ●enhancing lighting and ventilation.

Additionally, to prevent falls, the house was equipped with LED wireless motion-sensor lights and anti-slip mats.

Sooyoungro Church continues to lead home-improvement efforts in Busan’s eastern districts, serving as an exemplary model of community contribution.

Furthermore, occupational therapy students from Kosin University volunteered their time and skills to provide therapy programs that support the elderly resident in adapting to the newly renovated space.

The program, designed to improve quality of life, includes personalized daily-living support such as fall-prevention exercises, with two students visiting each household five times.

Jung Tae-gi, Director General of the Social Welfare Bureau of Busan Metropolitan City, stated,

“We hope to continue the ‘Busan-Style Habitat Challenge Project’ so that more elderly residents can live safely and healthily in the homes they have cherished for years.
The city will actively seek out committed businesses, organizations, and individuals to keep the donation relay going, contributing to a safer and more caring Busan while setting a model for corporate social responsibility.”