Seoul City operates 90 ‘Senior Companion Stores’ for seniors aged 65 or older… 1 million won in support to each store

Support of 1 million won each to 90 participating stores

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-gyu = In Seoul, 90 'Senior Companion Stores' are operated where seniors aged 65 or older can receive discounts when using local stores such as beauty salons, cafes, optical stores, and gyms.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 4th that it is designating and operating a senior companion store that cooperates with private commercial facilities to support the leisure and lifestyle of the elderly in line with the super-aging society.

Currently, there are 90 participating businesses, including 20 beauty salons, 17 cafes, 9 optical shops, 6 workshops, 4 gyms, 3 billiard rooms, and 3 photo studios.

Each store sets its own discount items, times, and discount rates to provide benefits to customers aged 65 or older. Discount benefits for each store can be found on the Seoul City Welfare website.

The city of Seoul will provide a subsidy of 1 million won to each participating store, and part of the subsidy will be used to prepare simple ramps, safety handles, large font menus, bright LED lights, chairs specifically for the elderly, and stands for magnifying glasses and canes.

A ‘Senior Companion Store’ sign was installed at the store entrance and a signboard was installed at the checkout counter to help seniors easily recognize the store.

The city explained that in a previous survey of 104 people over the age of 65, 87.5% responded that they were willing to use a senior companion store if it were opened. Based on this, participating businesses were selected in five fields: sports/health, culture/art, hobbies/culture, rest/food/beverage, and living/convenience.

Jeong Jin-woo, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Welfare Department, said, "We will continue to expand related spaces and services so that seniors can feel welcome in the community and enjoy leisure and culture comfortably."