Running Sept. 5 through Dec. 20 on the first floor of City Hall's main building

Open the first and third Saturday and Sunday of each month, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Participants who complete a fitness assessment receive 1,000 points on the Sonmok Doctor 9988 app

Seoul City Hall, where a pop-up fitness testing center was set up for the Lunar New Year holiday. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]
Seoul City Hall, where a pop-up fitness testing center was set up for the Lunar New Year holiday. [Seoul Metropolitan Government]

Starting in September, the first-floor lobby of Seoul City Hall's main building will be transformed into a public fitness testing center. Open to all residents, the space will offer assessments covering muscular strength, cardiorespiratory endurance, flexibility and other fitness categories, along with expert consultations and personalized exercise prescriptions based on the results. Participants who complete the assessment will also receive 1,000 points on the city's Sonmok Doctor 9988 health app and a commemorative gift.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced the launch of the "Seoul Fitness Center — Come to You" program, which will run in the City Hall main building lobby from Sept. 5 through Dec. 20. The initiative is designed to help residents check their physical condition and find exercise routines suited to their needs as part of everyday life.

The center will operate on the first and third Saturday and Sunday of each month, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The opening sessions on Sept. 5 and 6 will target adults and senior citizens. From October through November, the program will roll out fitness assessment activities tailored to different age groups, including children as well as adults and seniors.

A pop-up fitness center that drew an enthusiastic response during the Lunar New Year holiday will return for Chuseok. During the Lunar New Year event, 2,883 people took part in fitness assessments over three days, drawing strong interest from families. The city plans to run fitness assessment and physical activity programs for the whole family from Sept. 25 through Sept. 27 during the Chuseok holiday period.

Residents who wish to participate can register on-site on the day or make advance reservations through the Sonmok Doctor 9988 app by selecting a preferred time slot. Walk-in registrations are accepted at City Hall on the day of the event, though wait times may occur depending on the number of participants. Seoul residents aged 18 and older who complete a fitness assessment will receive 1,000 special points on the Sonmok Doctor 9988 app.

The Seoul Fitness Center goes beyond providing a fitness rating — it also offers expert consultations and exercise prescriptions based on each participant's results. Participants can review their fitness evaluation and receive guidance on their current levels across categories such as muscular strength, muscular endurance and flexibility.

Those who complete the assessment will receive a fitness evaluation certificate and results sheet to keep for future health management. Residents who wish to pursue a formal certified fitness assessment after the event can book an appointment at one of the city's fitness certification centers. The Seoul Metropolitan Government currently operates 20 such centers across the city.

Meanwhile, the city has seen a decline in adult obesity rates through programs including Sonmok Doctor 9988 and the Seoul Fitness Center. Last year, the adult obesity rate in Seoul stood at 30.2 percent, down 0.8 percentage points from 31.0 percent in 2024 — the largest decrease among all 17 cities and provinces nationwide.

"We have set up this space so that residents visiting City Hall can check their fitness and health without any burden," said Jo Yeong-chang, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Public Health Bureau. "We hope people will take this as an opportunity to look after their health."


ikson@heraldcorp.com