Two rest shelters now operating, with a third planned for the second half of the year; package support includes industrial accident insurance subsidies and labor counseling
Yeongdeungpo-gu is stepping up field-level support for mobile workers ahead of the peak summer season, expanding rest shelter operations and free bottled water distribution to protect the health and rest rights of workers most exposed to extreme heat.
The district runs a range of support programs for delivery riders, courier drivers, designated drivers and other workers who spend long hours outdoors — including two dedicated rest shelters, free bottled water, industrial accident insurance subsidies and labor counseling — as part of its effort to build a safer working environment.
The district opened its first mobile worker rest shelter in Dangsan 2-dong in October 2023, then added a second in Singil-dong in December last year. Each shelter is equipped with heating and cooling systems, helmet dryers, phone chargers, refrigerators and other purpose-built amenities, as well as CCTV security systems, so workers can drop in safely and conveniently at any time.
Use of the shelters has grown consistently. In 2025 alone, some 18,000 mobile workers visited the facilities, cementing their role as essential rest spaces in the urban core. The program has also drawn wider recognition: in March, the first shelter hosted a bottled water-sharing MOU signing ceremony organized by the Ministry of Employment and Labor to prevent heat-related illness among mobile workers, drawing attention as a replicable model.
Reflecting strong demand, the district plans to open a third mobile worker rest shelter in the second half of the year, with residential accessibility a key consideration in selecting the site.
Practical heat-relief measures are also in place. Bottled water vending machines have been installed outside the first shelter and the Yeongdeungpo cultural lounge "Ddaddadda," while a dedicated refrigerator at the second shelter provides mobile workers with free cold water throughout the day.
The district is also broadening comprehensive support using the shelters as a hub. Industrial accident insurance subsidies for platform delivery workers ease their financial burden and support recovery after accidents, while labor law counseling, safety education and safety equipment support round out a field-centered package. Awareness campaigns at high-traffic locations such as Times Square are ongoing to foster greater social empathy and a culture of respect for mobile workers.
"We are maintaining close-knit support — from shelter operations to industrial accident insurance subsidies — to address the difficulties mobile workers face on the job, including extreme heat and a lack of rest spaces," Yeongdeungpo-gu Mayor Choi Ho-kwon said. "We will continue to deliver field-centered, everyday policies to make Yeongdeungpo a place where the value of labor is respected."
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