"Bought in a Hurry for Vacation? You Could Have Borrowed It Locally!" How to Save Money Using Public Resources [The Basics of Benefits]

Free Rental of Life Jackets and Everyday Tools

Reservations for 1,200 Sports Facilities and Meeting Rooms

Editor's Note"The more you know, the more you see — and the more you save." We live in an era overflowing with information, yet there are still many things we miss out on simply because we don't know about them. [The Basics of Benefits] delivers useful news you can use in everyday life: tips that will save you money if you know them, and cost you if you don't.

#A woman in her 30s, referred to as Ms. A, found herself hesitating as she searched for a life jacket for her young child ahead of their summer vacation. Since her child was growing quickly, she felt it was wasteful to buy something new that would only be used once or twice during vacation. Then, Ms. A learned that she could borrow a life jacket for free from a public institution and decided to look for a rental center near her vacation destination.

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If you have ever considered buying items you rarely use, such as a life jacket for water activities or an electric drill, it is worth looking into rental services offered by public institutions. Depending on the region, you can borrow items that are costly and cumbersome to store—yet needed only once or twice—for free.

"Gongyounuri," a platform operated by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, allows users to search for and reserve public facilities, spaces, and goods made available to the public by central government agencies, local governments, and public institutions. You can find a wide range of public resources including meeting rooms, sports facilities, performance venues, exhibition halls, public wedding halls, accommodation facilities, parking lots, and everyday tools.

However, just because a resource is listed on Gongyounuri does not mean it is free for everyone to use. Fees, eligible users, hours of operation, and reservation methods vary by facility or item, so you must check the detailed conditions before applying.

Free Life Jacket Rental in Summer

If you are planning water activities during your summer vacation, you can use Gongyounuri to find life jacket rental centers near your destination. By typing "life jacket" into the search bar and specifying a city, county, or district with a beach or valley, you can locate government offices and rental centers in the area that offer free life jacket rentals.

Depending on the rental center, you can check the available sizes (adult, youth, child), the quantity in stock, and the dates available for reservation. Simply select your desired date and quantity, reserve online, and pick up the items in person.

Note that some rental centers do not support online reservations or real-time inventory checks. Before visiting, confirm availability via the detailed page or by contacting the operating institution, and be sure to bring an ID for pickup.

1,200 Sports Facilities and Meeting Rooms Bookable on Private Apps

The process of finding and reserving public facilities has become even easier. According to the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, starting in April 2025, more than 1,200 public sports facilities and meeting rooms nationwide can be reserved directly via private platforms such as Naver Maps and KakaoTalk.

The figure of 1,200 refers specifically to the number of sports facilities and meeting rooms linked with private platforms, not the total number of public resources registered on Gongyounuri. Other facilities and items can be checked on the Gongyounuri website or mobile app.

Once you select your region and the type of resource, the system will provide details on nearby facilities, including location, capacity, available hours, fees, and reservation methods.

Facilities available include meeting rooms and lecture halls for small gatherings or certification study groups, as well as sports venues like badminton and soccer courts, performance venues, exhibition halls, rehearsal and creative spaces, and public wedding halls. Some facilities can be reserved online instantly, while others require approval from the managing institution. In some cases, eligibility is limited to local residents, workers in the neighborhood, or organizations, so it's important to review the application requirements in advance.

Electric Drills and Ladders Available at Community Centers

Cheonwang Station Beodeul Village Vitality Center Tool Rental Service. Guro District

Everyday tools that are infrequently used and difficult to store, such as electric drills, saws, and ladders, can also be borrowed for free in certain regions. In Seoul's Gangnam District, residents and local business workers can borrow tools free of charge from community centers. Each center has more than 20 types of tools, including electric drills, heavy-duty cutters, saws, and ladders, and the rental period is three days.

To use the service, simply bring your ID to the community center and fill out an application form. Since some tools may already be on loan, it's best to check inventory via Gongyounuri or by contacting the relevant community center before visiting.

The operation of tool rental services, available items, and eligibility criteria vary by local government. Some centers restrict usage to local residents, while others extend eligibility to workers at local businesses.

When borrowing items, you should also check the rental period, return procedures, and responsibilities for damage or loss. For example, Gangnam District instructs users that they are responsible for restoring any lost, broken, or damaged tools to their original condition. Failure to comply with the rental terms may result in restrictions on future use.

Before buying something you'll only use once or twice or paying to reserve a meeting space, it's worth checking Gongyounuri for nearby public resources. Even a quick search for available items or spaces in your neighborhood can help you avoid unnecessary expenses.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.