KEPCO Monitors Well-being of Single-person Households Using Artificial Intelligence

KEPCO, Seogwipo City, and SKT Sign MOU to Provide AI-Based Social Safety Net Services

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) announced on the 22nd that it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Seogwipo City and SK Telecom at Seogwipo City Hall in Jeju to provide an "Artificial Intelligence-based Social Safety Net Service."

This MOU was established to provide the "Single-Person Household Care Service," which utilizes big data from KEPCO and SKT, to strengthen the social safety net for vulnerable single-person households in Seogwipo citizens.

This service analyzes electricity usage with AI and uses call records to detect abnormal patterns different from daily life routines. When such patterns are detected, it notifies welfare officials of local governments to enable prompt action, thereby preventing accidents such as solitary deaths.

KEPCO and SKT will collect electricity usage and communication data to provide the service, build the service homepage, and conduct user training. Seogwipo City plans to recruit participants, establish a business cooperation system, and utilize the service.

Previously, KEPCO conducted a pilot project for the Single-Person Household Care Service last year in cooperation with Gwangsan District Office in Gwangju City and SKT.

During the pilot project period, user convenience features were improved by reflecting the opinions of welfare officials in this service.

The improved service is planned to be provided to other local governments besides Seogwipo City in the future.

Kim Taeyong, Head of KEPCO's Digital Transformation Division, said, "I hope this service will help improve the safety of vulnerable single-person households, which have become more difficult due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic," and added, "KEPCO will continue to discover various public services by utilizing digital new technologies such as big data, AI, and the Internet of Things (IoT)."