Senior discounts at cafes and hair salons... Seoul operates 90 'Senior Companion Shops'

[Financial News] Ninety private establishments in Seoul, including cafes, hair salons, eyewear shops and craft studios, are offering discounts to customers aged 65 and older. The stores are also installing facilities such as ramps and safety handrails to make them more accessible to seniors.  Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 4th that it is operating 90 'Senior Companion Shops,' using private commercial facilities as senior-friendly spaces.
Senior Companion Shops are 'Yes Senior Zones' designated by Seoul Metropolitan Government to help older adults enjoy leisure and cultural activities more conveniently in their daily living areas. After surveying 104 people aged 65 and older about the leisure facilities they wanted, the city recruited participating stores in five categories: sports and health, culture and arts, hobbies and liberal arts, relaxation and food and beverages, and daily life and convenience. It selected 90 establishments in August through a district-level application process and eligibility evaluations.
As of the end of September, hair salons were the most common type of establishment, with 20 locations. The participating businesses also include 17 cafes, nine eyewear shops, six craft studios, four gyms, and three billiard halls and three photo studios. The remaining 28 locations are in other industries.
Each participating store sets its own discounted items and hours and provides benefits to customers aged 65 and older. Details of the discounts are available in the latest welfare news section on the official Seoul Metropolitan Government website.
Facility improvements are also being carried out to make stores more accessible to seniors. Seoul Metropolitan Government is providing 1 million won per store, with part of the funding designated for installing portable ramps, safety handrails and large-print menus. High-luminance LED lighting, senior-only chairs, magnifying-glass stands and cane holders are also eligible for support.
The city expects these facilities to improve access not only for seniors but also for citizens with mobility or visual impairments. Signs outside the stores and information boards at the registers will also be installed so that customers can easily identify participating establishments.
In a survey conducted before the program began, 87.5% of respondents said they would be willing to use a Senior Companion Shop if one became available.
Seoul Metropolitan Government is pursuing Senior Companion Shops as part of its '9988 Seoul: Happier as You Age' initiative, which supports leisure and cultural activities for older adults. The city is also creating regional Vitality Recharge Centers and neighborhood Vitality Recharge Stations that residents can reach on foot from their homes.
Jeong Jin-woo, director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Welfare Office, said, "We will continue to identify and implement a range of policies to create communities where seniors are welcomed and to expand leisure and cultural spaces for them." 

[email protected] Seong Chorong Reporter