Korea’s older adults pushed aside in bid to beautify public park

Last year, Seoul’s Jongno District announced plans to remove all janggi (Korean chess) and baduk (Go) tables at Tapgol Park — a decision that sparked controversy, with critics viewing it as a de facto policy to push older people out of the public spaces surrounding the park. The move was not an isolated incident. City authorities pursued what they called a “sanctification project” at Tapgol Park 25 years ago, during which older people were pushed aside in the name of improving the park’s appearance. Now, critics say little has changed in how the city treats its older residents. While disruptive behavior should be addressed, they argue, enforcement must be more carefully calibrated — one that respects seniors’ autonomy rather than simply displacing them. Lee Kang-won, a professor of Japanese regional culture at Incheon National University who conducted field research in the Tapgol area in the early 2000s, says older people have repeatedly been pushed aside by administrative measures. In 2001, the Seoul Metropolitan Government launched the “sanctification project” at Tapg

Read Full Article