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Busan Metropolitan City Completes Additional Replacement of Metro Charging Stations for Electric Mobility Devices for Persons with Disabilities, Whose Service Life Has Expired

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Busan Metropolitan City (Mayor Park Heong-joon) announced that, following last year’s initiative, an additional 18 rapid chargers for electric mobility devices for persons with disabilities, which had exceeded their service life, have been replaced at metro stations and other locations.

Since June, the City selected installation sites for replacement chargers in consultation with Busan Transportation Corporation. In August, through the Busan Assistive Device Center (Director Lee Seung-hee), the City replaced chargers at Busan Station and 15 other metro stations, as well as two additional public facilities, for a total of 17 sites.

This project was carried out as the chargers installed in 2015 at metro stations (53 units in total) reached the end of their eight-year service life. To ensure mobility rights for persons with disabilities and to improve transportation infrastructure, the City first replaced 36 units last year (2024).

For this year’s replacement, 50 million KRW from the sponsorship funds donated by KB Kookmin Bank in December last year for welfare projects for persons with disabilities in Busan was used. Last year’s (2024) replacement of 36 units also utilized 100 million KRW from the sponsorship fund donated by KB Kookmin Bank to mark the 44th National Day of Persons with Disabilities.

The newly installed chargers can simultaneously charge two electric mobility devices, reaching 75–80% capacity within two hours.

In case of malfunctions or inconvenience, users may contact the Busan Metropolitan Comprehensive Welfare Center for Persons with Disabilities (Busan Assistive Device Center, ☎ 051-790-6190) or the disability welfare division of each district or county office.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the “Ordinance on Support and Promotion of Assistive Devices for Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizens of Busan Metropolitan City,” the City has installed and operates a total of 209 chargers for electric mobility devices at public facilities and social welfare institutions to enhance the mobility convenience of persons with disabilities.

Article 7 of the ordinance (Installation and Operation of Chargers) stipulates that “the Mayor may install and operate chargers for electric mobility devices such as power wheelchairs at public facilities and social welfare institutions to facilitate the mobility of persons with disabilities.”

Jung Tae-gi, Director General of Social Welfare Bureau, stated, “Thanks to KB Kookmin Bank’s consistent interest and support for disability welfare projects, we were able to replace all expired rapid chargers for electric mobility devices. Going forward, the City will further strengthen welfare infrastructure for persons with disabilities by focusing on maintenance, management, and additional installation of chargers.”