Wearable robots offer mobility to people with disabilities in Seoul

The Mapo District office launched a wearable-robot rehabilitation program in western Seoul to help residents with mobility impairments regain independence. In partnership with Seoul Seobuk Hospital and Angel Robotics, the initiative uses robotic exoskeletons to analyze gait and provide tailored therapy. Participants practice walking indoors and outdoors, including curbs, crosswalks and slopes, with community-based navigation planned for Nov. 11.

The program combines Mapo District’s public health services with Seoul Seobuk Hospital and Angel Robotics’ wearable robotics technology.

The battery-powered exoskeletons assist movement according to each participant’s walking pattern and can provide resistance for targeted leg strengthening.

The first session in July covered baseline gait analysis and posture consultation, while the second phase in October moved outdoors.

The final session is scheduled for Nov. 11 in community spaces such as local supermarkets and parks.

A 52-year-old participant surnamed Ahn said the program improved confidence in walking outdoors without financial burden.

Published Oct 18, 2026 7:00 am KST

High-tech exoskeletons help Mapo District residents regain walking independence

A resident uses a wearable mobility robot to cross a Seoul street, guided by physical therapists as part of a community rehabilitation program. Courtesy of Seoul Mapo District Office

Advanced rehabilitation involving wearable robotics has traditionally remained out of reach for many due to high costs and limited availability outside major medical centers. Now, a pioneering municipal program in western Seoul is bringing this cutting-edge technology directly into neighborhood streets.

The Mapo District office is running a specialized robotic rehabilitation initiative designed to help registered residents with mobility impairments regain independence. By partnering with the Seoul Seobuk Hospital and wearable robotics firm Angel Robotics, the district has established a collaborative support framework bridging public health infrastructure with advanced medical engineering.

Driven by leading tech firms, research institutes and startups like Hyundai Motor, the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and Angel Robotics, Korea has rapidly expanded wearable robot technology beyond specialized medical rehabilitation into everyday industrial, agricultural and community mobility applications.

The program utilizes robotic exoskeletons to analyze participants' gaits and provide tailored physical therapy. Unlike traditional stationary therapy, these battery-powered devices actively assist movement based on individual walking patterns and can be adjusted to introduce resistance modes for targeted leg strengthening. Under the close supervision of physical therapists, participants not only learn proper gait mechanics but also work to prevent secondary musculoskeletal complications.

The multisession curriculum goes beyond indoor exercise.

While the first session in July focused on baseline gait analysis and posture consultation, the second phase in October took participants outdoors to navigate curbs, crosswalks and gentle slopes.

The final session, scheduled for Nov. 11, will take place in community spaces, such as local supermarkets and parks, allowing participants to practice real-world navigation while wearing the robotic gear.

Participants have reported transformative results.

A 52-year-old resident surnamed Ahn noted that experiencing the technology without financial burden has been life-changing.

"At first, going outside wearing a robot felt unfamiliar, but with the machine's assistance and the therapist's guidance, I gained the confidence to walk outdoors," Ahn said.

District officials emphasize that the initiative is part of a broader effort to democratize advanced healthcare. Mapo District Mayor Yu Dong-gyun said the program aims to provide professional gait rehabilitation close to home for disabled residents who rarely encounter high-tech therapies.

"We hope robotic rehabilitation makes every step easier and helps our residents build the confidence to step back out into everyday life," Yu said.

As municipalities across Korea look for innovative ways to integrate technology into public welfare, Mapo District’s pilot program offers a compelling blueprint for how communities can harness robotics to restore mobility and dignity.

This article was published with the assistance of generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.

首尔麻浦区政府在首尔西部启动了一项可穿戴机器人康复计划，旨在帮助行动不便的居民重获独立生活能力。该计划与首尔西北医院和Angel Robotics公司合作，利用机器人外骨骼分析步态并提供个性化治疗。参与者将在室内外进行行走练习，包括路缘、人行横道和坡道，并计划于11月11日开展社区导航训练。

该项目将麻浦区的公共卫生服务与首尔西北医院和Angel Robotics的可穿戴机器人技术相结合。

电池驱动的外骨骼可以根据每个参与者的行走模式辅助运动，并可提供阻力以进行针对性的腿部力量训练。

7 月份的第一阶段涵盖了步态基线分析和姿势咨询，而 10 月份的第二阶段则移至户外进行。

最后一场活动定于 11 月 11 日在当地超市、公园等社区场所举行。

一位 52 岁的安姓参与者表示，该项目提高了他在户外散步的信心，而且没有经济负担。

发布于2026年10月18日 上午7:00（韩国标准时间）

高科技外骨骼帮助麻浦区居民重获行走能力

一位居民在理疗师的指导下，佩戴可穿戴式助行机器人穿越首尔街头，这是社区康复计划的一部分。图片由首尔麻浦区政府提供。

由于费用高昂且仅在大型医疗中心提供，涉及可穿戴机器人技术的先进康复治疗历来令许多人望而却步。如今，首尔西部一项开创性的市政项目正将这项尖端技术直接引入社区街道。

麻浦区政府正在推行一项专门的机器人康复计划，旨在帮助已登记的行动不便居民重获独立生活能力。通过与首尔西北医院和可穿戴机器人公司Angel Robotics合作，该区建立了一个将公共卫生基础设施与先进医疗工程相结合的协作支持框架。

在现代汽车、韩国科学技术院和天使机器人等领先科技公司、研究机构和初创企业的推动下，韩国已迅速将可穿戴机器人技术从专门的医疗康复扩展到日常工业、农业和社区出行应用领域。

该项目利用机器人外骨骼分析参与者的步态，并提供量身定制的物理治疗。与传统的固定式治疗不同，这些电池驱动的设备能够根据个人的行走模式主动辅助运动，并且可以调节阻力模式，以针对性地增强腿部力量。在物理治疗师的密切指导下，参与者不仅能学习正确的步态力学，还能预防继发性肌肉骨骼并发症。

该多阶段课程不仅限于室内运动。

7 月份的第一阶段侧重于步态基线分析和姿势咨询，而 10 月份的第二阶段则带领参与者到户外，学习如何应对路缘、人行横道和缓坡。

最后一次训练定于 11 月 11 日举行，将在当地超市和公园等社区场所进行，让参与者能够佩戴机器人装备练习现实世界的导航。

参与者报告称取得了变革性成果。

一位52岁的安姓居民表示，体验这项技术而无需承担经济负担，改变了他的生活。

“一开始，穿着机器人出门感觉很不习惯，但在机器的帮助和治疗师的指导下，我获得了在户外行走的信心，”安说道。

区政府官员强调，这项举措是普及先进医疗服务的整体计划的一部分。麻浦区区长俞东均表示，该项目旨在为那些很少接触到高科技疗法的残疾居民提供就近的专业步态康复服务。

“我们希望机器人康复能够让每一步都更加轻松，并帮助我们的居民建立信心，重新融入日常生活，”余说。

韩国各地市政当局都在寻求将技术融入公共福利的创新方法，而麻浦区的试点项目为社区如何利用机器人技术恢复行动能力和尊严提供了一个引人注目的蓝图。

本文由生成式人工智能协助发布，并由《韩国时报》编辑。