Seoul's Seodaemun District is introducing a volunteer program that lets residents accumulate the hours they spend helping neighbors and draw on them later when they need assistance themselves, or pass them on to others.
The program follows a "time bank" model, under which one hour of volunteer work is credited as one hour of "time currency."
The credits can be used for everyday care among residents, including wellness check-ins, accompanying neighbors to medical appointments, sharing home-cooked side dishes and helping with digital devices.
The district plans to sign a memorandum of understanding with Time Bank Korea on the 28th of this month to set up the operating framework. After resident training this year, it will run a pilot program with about 30 participants in 2027 and expand the number of participating neighborhoods from 2028.
"We will connect residents' time and talents so that anyone can be both a giver and a receiver of help," Seodaemun District Mayor Park Un-ki said.