Seoul creates senior playgrounds in every district
Seoul will install a network of senior playgrounds in all 25 districts by the end of 2026, turning corners of neighborhood parks into dedicated exercise and recreation zones for older residents. The move responds to a demographic curve that is reshaping daily life in the capital. Nearly one in five Seoulites is now 65 or older, and the country has reached the global benchmark of a hyper aged society. City planners are treating active aging as a core public service. By building places that invite movement, conversation, and routine social contact close to home, officials aim to support health, reduce isolation, and help older residents remain independent longer.
Thirteen sites are already open, from Gwangjin and Seongbuk to Yangcheon and Dongjak, after a pilot in Guro in 2022. The concept is simple and specific to older bodies. Compact zones cluster easy to use fitness stations and play features, then wrap them with visible safety details. Shock absorbing surfaces cushion falls. Handrails guide users between stations. Seating and shade are close at hand. Instructions are clear and the equipment resists at gentle levels to protect joints. At Seoul Children’s Grand Park in Gwangjin, for example, eight different stations include hand cycle machines that build upper body strength and a stepping stone path that challenges coordination to support cognitive function. The entire area is barrier free, with smooth rubber flooring and no curbs, so people who use wheelchairs or walkers can move comfortably.
In Yangcheon’s Jangsu Park near Sinjeongnegeori Station on Subway Line 2, the layout blends exercise and play. Stretching machines sit beside ground markings for traditional games such as yutnori, where players toss wooden sticks and move pieces together. On a typical day, the space draws around 200 visitors, and the atmosphere feels closer to a neighborhood plaza than a gym. People linger to compare routines, share tips, and meet the same faces at the same hour.
A Yangcheon resident in his 70s said the space changed his routine. He had tried sitting at a senior center but felt restless and stayed home most days. The equipment here felt approachable, and conversations started easily after a few visits.
