Nowon-gu Promotes Customized Support for Single-Person Households... Details?

Established a tailored support system in five areas including prevention of solitary deaths through a full survey of 7,797 middle-aged and older single male households last year... Operated educational programs on finance, cooking, home gardening, home interior, and counseling programs to enhance independent living skills and social networks for young single-person households... Provided 'Safe Home Set' and 'Women’s Safe Delivery Box' support for female single-person households

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] According to the Population Census by Statistics Korea, as of 2019, the number of single-person households nationwide is approximately 6,147,516, accounting for about 30% of all households.

This figure represents an increase of about 15% over 20 years compared to the single-person household rate of 15.5% in 2000, confirming that the type of single-person households is rapidly increasing.

Future household projections also predict that single-person households will continue to increase until 2047, highlighting the need for social interest and support for single-person households.

Amid this, Nowon-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Oh Seung-rok) is focusing on preparing customized support measures for single-person households.

The district enacted an ordinance in 2019 concerning the prevention and support of solitary deaths among single-person households. This is to proactively respond to social changes due to the increase in single-person households, based on a survey, and to provide customized support and build a social safety net for various types of single-person households.

First, from June to October last year, a survey was conducted on 7,797 middle-aged single men aged between 50 and 64. The survey results showed that 544 of them required support.

The recipients receive support in five major areas: ▲ social activities ▲ economy ▲ health ▲ housing ▲ and others.

They first receive regular visits and welfare checks from the Nowon Ddokddokddok Care Group and the Neighbor Love Volunteer Group, composed of residents familiar with local conditions. In addition, in connection with the Nowon 50+ Center, they are supported to form healthy social networks through life planning and self-directed programs.

Single-person households experiencing economic difficulties are assisted not only with public benefit applications but also with job placement through the Job Counseling Center to help achieve economic independence. Those reporting health issues are linked with the Mental Health Welfare Center and the Integrated Addiction Management Support Center for counseling and treatment of physical and mental problems. For housing-vulnerable groups, housing environment improvements are made in connection with low-income home repair support projects.

For middle-aged single-person households at high risk of solitary death, a non-face-to-face digital care service is also being promoted. The smart plug sends a signal to the welfare planner at the local community center if there is no change in indoor lighting and electricity usage during a set time. Installation was completed for a total of 150 households by December last year.

Support for the increasing number of young single-person households is also being strengthened. The Nowon-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center operates various education and counseling programs reflecting the needs of single-person households.

First is an education program to improve independent living skills. It includes ▲ financial education to assist economic activities such as finding a single-person household residence ▲ cooking classes for healthy eating ▲ home interior and organization practice ▲ home gardening for emotional stability ▲ and relationship enhancement programs to form healthy relationships with others.

Group counseling programs for psychological stability are also conducted. For young households, sessions focus on career and interpersonal relationships, providing time to grow into healthy members of society. Additionally, self-help groups are formed based on common interests such as reading, art, and health to help build social networks.

To support economic independence, youth jobs are also supported. Starting with the opening of Youth Cafe branches 1 and 2 in February this year, Youth Shops 3 to 6 will open in Gungneung-dong Noodle Street to support youth entrepreneurship challenges and the foundation for independence.

Furthermore, the district is implementing the ‘Safe Home Set Support’ project for crime prevention targeting female single-person households and the ‘Women’s Safe Parcel Box’ project, which allows safe, non-face-to-face parcel receipt. Currently, nine unmanned parcel lockers are in operation, and five more will be installed this year near subway stations and multi-use facilities in residential areas to improve accessibility.

District Mayor Oh Seung-rok said, “We will continuously prepare measures involving public institutions and the local community for single-person households who might otherwise be marginalized or socially isolated, and we will spare no support at the district level.” Nowon-gu Welfare Policy Division, Nowon-gu Healthy Family and Multicultural Family Support Center