Set to open Tuesday, the service is the first in the country backed by a dedicated municipal ordinance, offering free repairs — from light bulb replacements to window-screen fixes — to seniors living alone, elderly couples and grandparent-headed households
Mapo-gu is launching a free home-repair service for elderly residents who struggle to handle even minor household problems on their own — such as replacing a burned-out light bulb or patching a torn window screen.
The district will open a dedicated home-repair support center at 15 Sinchon-ro 20-gil on Tuesday, providing practical assistance to improve the residential and daily living conditions of senior households.
The center offers hands-on repair and replacement services for minor household breakdowns, designed to help elderly residents who find it difficult to deal with small domestic problems without assistance.
To underpin the initiative, Mapo-gu enacted a dedicated ordinance on Oct. 1 — the first of its kind in the country — establishing a legal basis for the center's operation.
Eligible residents include those aged 65 or older who live alone, elderly couples, and grandparent-headed households in which grandparents are 65 or older and grandchildren are 18 or younger, all residing in Mapo-gu.
Covered services include replacing light bulbs, fluorescent tubes and LED lights, faucets, showerheads, door hinges, door handles and switches, as well as repairing window screens, applying silicone sealant and hammering nails. The service is free of charge, with up to four visits per household per year. Material costs are covered up to 50,000 won ($38) per visit.
Once a request is received, staff verify the applicant's eligibility and conduct a consultation before dispatching a field worker to the resident's home to assess and carry out the necessary work.
However, work requiring a license or certification under laws governing electricity, gas or other regulated fields is excluded. Jobs that require professional contractors — such as wallpapering, flooring, plumbing, boiler repairs and home appliance repairs — are also not covered.
Residents who wish to use the service can call the center directly or reach it by phone or text message on its dedicated mobile line. Walk-in applications are also accepted. The center operates on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"Even a small breakdown can be a major inconvenience for an elderly person who cannot handle it alone," Mapo-gu District Mayor Yoo Dong-gyun said. "I hope the center becomes a reliable helping hand that reaches the places seniors cannot reach on their own."
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