International grant to provide $131,100 over three years for rehabilitation equipment
Center equipped with walking rails, motorized exercise machines and standing trainers; serves children through adults
Seven specialists to run life-cycle rehabilitation programs for 180 users
Seoul's Gangseo-gu has opened a specialized physical therapy center for people with severe cerebral palsy, with funding from Rotary International.
The district held an opening ceremony at the Gangseo Cerebral Palsy Welfare Center on Wednesday, marking the start of full operations.
The project aims to provide specialized rehabilitation treatment tailored to each stage of life — from children and adolescents with cerebral palsy through adults — and to help improve and maintain walking ability based on individual physical function.
The center became possible after the welfare center was selected for an international cooperation grant from Rotary International. The organization will provide $131,100 over three years to support the facility.
The funds were used to install specialized rehabilitation equipment, including walking rails, motorized upper- and lower-limb exercise machines, standing trainers and equine-motion exercise devices. The setup is designed to help people with severe cerebral palsy achieve independent mobility and improve physical function.
The welfare center plans to deploy seven specialists — including physical therapists and adapted physical education teachers — to run individualized rehabilitation programs for 180 users, tailored to each person's physical characteristics and functional level.
The Wednesday ceremony drew about 100 attendees, including Gangseo-gu District Mayor Jin Kyo-hoon, Gangseo Cerebral Palsy Welfare Center Director Park Se-young, Rotary Foundation Governor Kim Hak-jun, Seoul Gangseo Rotary Club President Bae Sang-gu and Rotary Foundation Chicago headquarters representative Anishin.
"The opening of this physical therapy center is significant because it provides the rehabilitation environment that people with severe cerebral palsy and their families truly need, right here in the community," Jin said. "I am deeply grateful to the Rotary Club and everyone involved for their warm generosity."
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