Two '1-Person Household Support Centers' in Autonomous Districts This Second Half of the Year... One More to Be Added, Expanding to All Autonomous Districts
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] Seoul City will expand the number of autonomous district ‘1-Person Household Support Centers’ that provide necessary living and policy information through counseling for single-person households and offer connections to relevant services to 24 by the end of this year.
On the 15th, Seoul City announced that it will newly establish two centers in Gangbuk-gu and Songpa-gu in the second half of this year, expanding from the 22 centers established last year. Jung-gu, which currently does not have a 1-person household support center, plans to expand and install one next year. Since 2019, Seoul City has been installing and operating ‘1-Person Household Support Centers’ in 22 autonomous districts until last year to support single-person households, which account for 34.9% of all households in Seoul.
The dedicated counseling staff for the ‘1-Person Household Support Centers’ will also nearly double from the existing 35 to 60 this year. These personnel support specialized online and offline psychological counseling, discover and conduct programs tailored for single-person households, and provide customized policy connections for each single-person household. Additionally, Seoul City plans to develop and expand new common programs this year reflecting the demands of each autonomous district. Various economic education programs such as financial management, retirement planning, and debt management will be newly organized at all ‘1-Person Household Support Centers.’ These programs will be conducted based on applications from citizens.
In line with the increasing trend of single-person households, Seoul City will expand the infrastructure and personnel of the ‘1-Person Household Support Centers’ and strengthen their functions. For autonomous districts without a ‘1-Person Household Support Center,’ a separate space within the district will be secured to newly establish a center. In places where the center was previously located within family centers, facilities will be expanded by enlarging the space and organization to increase programs for single-person households.
From March to May, ‘119 Customized Programs for Single-Person Households’ aimed at healthy and happy solo living will be offered both online and offline. These ‘1-Person Household Programs’ will be recruited and conducted at the ‘1-Person Household Support Centers’ in 22 autonomous districts. Interested individuals can participate by pre-registering for individual programs organized around five key areas most needed by single-person households: social networks, health, economy and independence, safety, and housing.
If health is a concern, one can apply for the ‘Gather as One’ program, which offers low-sodium cooking classes and small group exercise education. For single-person households living in poor housing conditions or struggling with home management, the ‘Ttukttak Home Repair’ program offers opportunities to learn self-home repair and interior decoration.
Especially for single-person households, interacting and communicating with people around them and maintaining certain social relationships are essential for alleviating feelings of isolation and mental health. Accordingly, Seoul City plans to support the formation of self-help groups or clubs based on common interests and promote social network formation by conducting programs such as ‘Social Dining,’ where participants cook and share meals together.
Furthermore, programs on basic education and practical methods related to highly popular topics such as environment, digital technology, and companion animals will be conducted. Leisure and cultural programs reflecting the diverse interests of single-person households, such as exercise and art, will be prepared to support a healthy daily life. Residents who are single-person households in Seoul can participate in these programs regardless of their residential area. Detailed registration schedules and application methods can be checked on the ‘Seoul City 1-Person Household Portal’ or at the respective 1-Person Household Support Centers.
Lee Hae-seon, Head of the Seoul City 1-Person Household Special Measures Promotion Team, said, “We plan to continuously develop and provide demand-tailored programs so that anyone in a single-person household can use various programs near their home without burden.” She added, “We also hope for active interest and participation from single-person households in ongoing counseling, self-help groups, and club support projects.”
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