Volunteers earn hours for future care as Seoul district pioneers exchange model
In the neighborhoods of western Seoul, an hour spent helping an elderly neighbor navigate a smartphone touchscreen could soon buy a ride to a hospital appointment or a helping hand with daily chores down the road. Seodaemun District is preparing to launch a local "time bank" system, allowing residents to earn time credits by volunteering and redeem them later for help from their neighbors. The…
Seodaemun District in western Seoul is set to launch a pioneering time bank system, allowing residents to earn time credits by volunteering and redeem them for help from their neighbors in the future. The initiative aims to transform the traditional one-way dynamic of municipal welfare into a reciprocal, community-driven safety net.
Under the framework, every hour a resident spends assisting someone in the community earns one hour of time currency, which can later be used for services such as rides to hospital appointments or assistance with daily chores. This system operates on the principle of absolute equality, allowing anyone to offer a skill they have and request support when they face daily hurdles.
The time bank model comes as urban districts across Korea face challenges such as declining volunteer participation, an aging population, and a rise in single-person households.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
