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Busan Metropolitan City Improves Facilities for Older Adults, from Cooling Equipment and Facility Upgrades to Extended Senior Center Hours

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Chun Jae-soo, announced that it will carry out a project to improve facilities used by older adults in cooperation with the Busan Metropolitan City Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, chaired by Park Jong-soo, and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation, headed by President Kim Kyung-hwan, with the aim of protecting the health of older adults and creating safer and more comfortable environments.

The initiative was developed through cooperation among Busan Metropolitan City, the Busan Metropolitan City Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation to expand practical, community-based support that older adults can directly benefit from in their daily lives.

First, Busan Metropolitan City and the Korea Housing Finance Corporation will use donated funds to improve neighborhood rest areas for older adults in preparation for extreme heat, helping them stay healthy and safe during the summer.

Cooling equipment will be installed at seven neighborhood rest areas for older adults that currently lack adequate cooling facilities. By improving cooling conditions at these community spaces frequently used by older adults, the initiative aims to protect their health from extreme summer heat and strengthen the facilities’ function as safe places of respite.

In addition, Busan Metropolitan City and the Busan Metropolitan City Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association will use KRW 50 million donated by Wookil Industry Co., Ltd., a Busan-based company, to improve facilities at 50 aging senior centers.

Senior centers where deteriorating facilities have caused inconvenience to users will undergo improvements including wallpapering, flooring replacement, painting, waterproofing, and window replacement. Priority will be given to facilities requiring improvements to enhance user safety and convenience, creating more comfortable environments for older adults.

Meanwhile, Busan Metropolitan City is also extending the operating hours of senior centers so that older adults vulnerable to extreme heat can safely escape the heat.

Beginning in August and continuing through September 30, the end of the heat wave response period, senior centers that previously operated from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays will remain open every day from 09:00 to 21:00. Any person aged 65 or older may use the facilities, regardless of whether they are a member of the Korean Senior Citizens Association.

Operating hours have currently been extended at 211 senior centers, and Busan Metropolitan City plans to provide KRW 45 million from the Disaster Relief Fund to help cover cooling costs.

A list of senior centers with extended operating hours is available on the Busan Metropolitan City website at https://www.busan.go.kr/depart/welgrand030402. The city will continue to keep the list of participating senior centers up to date.

Hwang Soon-gil, Director General of the Social Welfare Bureau, said, “We are pleased that the generous financial support from the Korea Housing Finance Corporation will enable us to improve the everyday environments frequently used by older adults and provide them with more comfortable spaces.”

He added, “We will continue to work closely with the Busan Metropolitan City Federation of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, actively incorporate feedback from the field, and strengthen public-private cooperation so that older adults can enjoy comfortable and safe environments close to home in their daily lives.”