As Korea moves rapidly into the era of the “100-year life,” the living environment and community services for seniors have become a central issue. Recent studies reveal that while elderly residents of apartment complexes are generally satisfied with their housing environment, they are surprisingly reluctant to use one of the most accessible facilities available to them: the community center, known as gyeongnodang.
According to a survey conducted by the Seoul Institute with 500 residents over the age of 60 living in apartment complexes, nearly 90% were aware of the community center in their complex, yet only 31.2% actually used it. The disparity is particularly striking among younger seniors: in the 60–64 age group, the usage rate was literally zero.
---
📊 Why don’t seniors use the centers?
The survey pointed to three major reasons:
“I don’t feel the need” (76.7%)
“I prefer staying at home” (24.7%)
“It feels uncomfortable to mingle with others” (13.0%)
These responses highlight that the issue is not simply about the lack of facilities, but rather about how the services and programs are designed. Many community centers remain focused on providing basic functions such as rest areas or simple meals. However, this model fails to attract seniors who seek more engaging, meaningful activities.
---
🍽️ Current services: food but little else
Currently, 85.6% of apartment community centers in Seoul provide at least one meal service per week, and 22.6% offer meals five days a week. Yet, over half of the seniors (55.1%) reported never experiencing any other type of program beyond meals.
This confirms that for many, the community center is seen merely as a place to eat.
But when asked what additional services they would like, the answers were clear:
Physical exercise and wellness programs (22.4%)
Health management (21.4%)
Hobbies and cultural activities (18.0%)
Practical daily support such as cleaning or mobility assistance (14.8%)
In other words, there is a demand for community centers to become multi-functional hubs supporting health, culture, and social life, not just dining halls.
---
👵 Usage differs by gender and age
Patterns of usage also varied significantly:
Women (40.6%) were nearly twice as likely as men (21.2%) to use the centers.
Among those aged 75 and older, 57.1% used community centers.
For ages 65–74, usage dropped to 28.4%.
For ages 60–64, it was 0%.
The data suggests that as seniors get older, and especially for women, community centers become more relevant. Younger seniors, however, often prefer independent lifestyles and see little benefit in attending.
---
🏘️ Structural problems and limitations
Legally, every large-scale apartment complex in Korea is required to build a community center. However, the law mainly stipulates installation, not how the facilities should be managed or what programs should be offered. This results in centers that exist in form but not in function.
The Seoul Institute’s recommendations include:
1. Modernizing the role of community centers
Offering diverse programs such as physical activities, health workshops, hobby and cultural classes, and digital literacy training.
Transforming centers into spaces for interaction, learning, and enrichment, rather than just rest and dining.
2. Expanding connections with other welfare facilities
Linking apartment complexes with senior welfare centers, medical support, and home-care services.
Building integrated systems to meet diverse needs.
3. Introducing a “Senior-Friendly Apartment Certification” system
Rating and upgrading apartments based on available senior services.
Offering benefits or incentives to complexes that provide higher-quality programs.
---
🌱 Rethinking senior housing culture
The findings of this survey raise a broader question: how should we design housing and communities for an aging population?
It is clear that simple physical infrastructure is no longer enough. What seniors need are:
Safe and pleasant living environments,
Opportunities for meaningful social interaction,
Personalized programs that reflect their interests and health needs.
When these conditions are met, apartment community centers can evolve from being underutilized “dining halls” into vibrant hubs of social and cultural life for seniors.
---
✍️ Conclusion
Korea’s apartment community centers were originally envisioned as a key support for elderly residents. But without modernization, many risk becoming irrelevant to younger seniors who seek richer and more independent lifestyles.
The future lies in transforming these spaces into wellness-oriented, culture-rich, and socially engaging community platforms. By doing so, apartments can truly live up to the promise of “aging in place” — allowing seniors not just to stay in their homes, but to thrive in their communities.
