Starting in September, people who visit Seoul City Hall on weekends can measure their fitness — including muscle strength, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility — free of charge and receive tailored exercise advice from experts. Seoul residents aged 18 and over who complete a fitness test also receive 1,000 points on the "Wrist Doctor 9988" health app.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on the 26th that it will run the "Seoul Fitness Center on Demand" in the first-floor lobby of the main City Hall building from Sept. 5 through Dec. 20. The program is designed to let residents check their fitness at a nearby location and use the results to manage their health.
The fitness sessions run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Saturdays and Sundays of the first and third weeks of each month. The Sept. 5–6 sessions are for adults and older adults, while programs for children will be added in stages in October and November.
Adults are tested on muscle strength, muscular endurance, cardiorespiratory endurance and flexibility. Older adults can take the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), which assesses balance, gait and lower-limb muscle function. Children have their basic fitness checked, including strength, agility and quickness. Participants may also be tested only on the events they are able to do, depending on their health condition.
After the test, experts explain the participant's current fitness level and recommend individual exercise methods based on the results. Counseling on lifestyle habits such as nutrition and rest is also provided, along with a fitness assessment certificate and a results sheet.
Seoul residents aged 18 and over who complete a fitness test can receive 1,000 special points on Wrist Doctor 9988. The same points are given even if only some events are completed. Residents can book in advance through the Wrist Doctor 9988 app or register on-site at City Hall on the day of the event.
Family programs will also be held during the Chuseok holiday. From Sept. 25 to 27, the city will run fitness-testing and physical-activity programs including bar hanging, the sit-and-reach test, a falling-bar reaction-speed test and balance pads. A pop-up fitness event during this year's Lunar New Year holiday drew 2,883 participants over three days.
Residents who want more precise, certified fitness testing can use a fitness certification center. Twenty centers are currently operating in districts including Gwangjin, Songpa, Yongsan, Eunpyeong, Seodaemun and Seocho, and additional centers will open in Gwanak, Gangnam, Dongdaemun, Jongno, Gangseo, Seongbuk and Yangcheon in the second half of the year.
"We arranged this so that residents visiting City Hall can measure their fitness and check their health without any burden," said Cho Young-chang, head of the Seoul city government's Citizens' Health Bureau. "I hope people will use it as a chance to take part with their families and check on their health."
