We'll Fix Your Light Fixtures and Doorknobs... Gwanak District's 'Home Repairs for Single-Person Households' Pilot Proves Popular

Life-Centered Welfare Service: “Gwanak Cheokcheok Haedeurim Center”

Seoul’s Gwanak District (Mayor Park Junhee) announced on November 12 that it is operating the Gwanak Cheokcheok Haedeurim Center, which visits the homes of residents living alone and handles minor repairs, such as replacing light fixtures and doorknobs. Applications were open regardless of income, and 172 came in, prompting the program to close early on November 10.

Park Junhee, mayor of Gwanak District (third from left), poses for a commemorative photo with officials at the signboard unveiling ceremony for the Gwanak Cheokcheok Haedeurim Center. Photo provided by Gwanak-gu.

Single-person households account for 64% of all households in Gwanak District, the highest share among Seoul’s autonomous districts. Even simple home repairs can be daunting for residents living alone: hiring a private contractor can be costly, and they may feel uneasy about letting a stranger into their home. The district said it launched the program in response to these local circumstances.

Most applicants were women, numbering 131 (76.2%). By age group, people in their 30s were the largest group, at 49 (28.5%), while 36 applicants (20.9%) were aged 70 or older.

The district will review applicants’ eligibility and whether the requested work can be carried out, then provide services in order. To help more residents benefit, it will cover only the single most urgent repair per household. A two-person mobile civil complaint response team will visit homes to replace light fixtures, faucets, doorknobs and showerheads; repair hinges and window screens; and install safety grab bars and non-slip pads. The team will also handle simple tasks requiring tools, such as applying silicone sealant and hammering in nails.

The program does not cover work requiring specialized skills or extensive construction, such as wallpapering, replacing floor coverings, repairing boilers, fixing leaks, waterproofing, or installing or repairing appliances. Requests will also be excluded if the issue does not significantly disrupt daily life or if the work poses a high risk of an accident. When another program can provide assistance, applicants will be referred to that service.

The district will also conduct follow-up checks on conditions before and after the work and gather feedback through a QR-code satisfaction survey. It plans to review and improve its procedures, from application to completion, and incorporate user feedback before resuming the center’s operations in February next year.

The district plans to extend its on-the-ground approach to public engagement, built around “Gwanakcheong,” where the district mayor communicates directly with residents, into services closely connected to daily life. In September, the district became the first local government in South Korea to receive a Special Award at the OIDP Awards for Best Practices in Participatory Democracy.

“We launched this program because even small tasks like replacing a light fixture or fixing a doorknob can be a major burden for residents living alone,” Mayor Park Junhee said. “We will continue to provide practical, community-based welfare services that address residents’ everyday needs as if they were those of our own family.”

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