Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon has drawn praise for a welfare initiative aimed at easing the burden on elderly residents who struggle with long walks, placing rest benches at neighborhood parks, senior centers and traditional markets — areas where older residents tend to congregate.
Jin, who has earned a reputation as a district mayor devoted to the elderly, has installed 200 "Magpie Benches" at parks, senior centers and other spots frequented by older residents, so they can walk the neighborhood safely and comfortably. Named after the magpie — the symbol of Gangseo-gu — the benches are designed to welcome elderly residents and offer a place to rest whenever they need a break during a long walk.
To determine placement, the district analyzed a range of data, including the proportion of elderly residents in each area, the distribution of senior centers and welfare facilities, and foot traffic at traditional markets.
Based on that analysis, the district installed 150 flat two-person benches and 50 cylindrical seats, concentrating them around neighborhood parks, senior centers and stops for free shuttle buses serving elderly and disabled residents.
The benches feature a wooden design intended to blend with the surrounding streetscape, with the district expecting the project to improve not only pedestrian convenience but also the visual appeal of local streets.
The district said the Magpie Bench rollout marks the start of a broader push to address the small, everyday inconveniences elderly residents face through practical, community-focused welfare programs.
"It is above all important to tend carefully to the environment — even in small ways — so that elderly residents do not face discomfort even in their everyday walks," Jin said. "We will continue to identify tailored welfare projects that residents can feel directly in their daily lives."
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