Closing Mobility Gaps

MetLife Korea recently signed a groundbreaking three-party Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that will pave the way to provide personal injury insurance services to electric mobility device users, including seniors or individuals with disabilities who previously had limited insurance options.

The agreement, between MetLife Korea, Seoul Eunpyeong District Office, one of the 25 districts of Seoul, South Korea and tech start-up Star Pickers will address the critical safety needs of mobility-impaired individuals in the region.

“This partnership reflects MetLife’s commitment to building confidence by expanding access to protection in the communities we serve,” said Young Rok Song, general manager, MetLife Korea. “By addressing protection gaps for people with mobility challenges, we’re providing practical support that enables greater independence for residents of Eunpyeong District, Seoul, while contributing to a safer, more connected community for everyone.”

Protecting E‑Mobility

Users Electric mobility devices are a rapidly growing means of transport for the elderly and disabled, but there has been virtually no insurance that directly covers personal injuries in case of accidents. With this collaboration, MetLife Korea aims to fill that gap, expanding its role from a traditional insurer to a proactive safety partner for the mobility impaired.

The MOU is also an essential part of Eunpyeong District’s project to build the AI-IoT enabled safe mobility platform for electric scooter users. About 100 mobility-impaired individuals participate in the project to have IoT sensors attached to their scooters, which monitor accidents on a real time basis.

The data collected is analyzed to identify mobility obstacles within the district which in turn will improve the transportation system. Star Pickers contributes advanced AI and IoT enabled accident detection technology. MetLife Korea provides the mini-insurance product to cover injuries in case of accidents.

Expanding Local Impact

And this partnership is just the beginning. MetLife Korea plans to expand its tailored safety networks across different regions, nearing an agreement in the Chungcheong province to provide specialized coverage for mobility device injuries among the elderly. MetLife Korea remains committed to collaborating with more local governments to deliver financial inclusion services that address the specific, real-world needs of each community.