Jungnang-gu, Rapid Support Through AI and Welfare Planner Check-ins for Households at Risk of Isolation

[Seoul District News] Jungnang-gu: From October, AI and welfare planners will check in twice weekly on socially isolated at-risk households & analyze call results for anomalies and prompt response... Geumcheon-gu: Pilot operation of SK Telecom’s ‘Dongnebangne AI Friend’ for socially isolated at-risk households

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Jungnang-gu (Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi) is strengthening its support system to prevent solitary deaths among socially isolated at-risk households and actively identify blind spots in care.

Starting this month, the district will enhance its welfare check service for socially isolated at-risk households using artificial intelligence (AI). This enables more proactive welfare checks compared to the previously implemented ‘Smart Plug’ service, which targeted middle-aged and older adults with a high frequency of solitary deaths.

The ‘Smart Plug’ service detects changes in illuminance and power consumption in target households to respond to crisis situations but does not involve direct interaction with the individuals. To address this limitation, the ‘AI Welfare Check Service’ makes direct phone calls to the individuals once a week to check on their well-being. After the call, any abnormal signs such as no response or irregular living patterns are identified and the results are sent to social welfare officers, allowing immediate response to crisis situations.

The AI-based welfare check communicates as if interacting with a person, remembering individual characteristics and past conversations, and reflecting the individual’s underlying health conditions and lifestyle patterns to enable highly understanding conversations. This not only checks on their well-being but also serves as companionship, expected to reduce feelings of loneliness among the individuals.

In addition, local welfare planners will also make weekly welfare check calls and support the daily lives of the individuals.

The district has also established a hotline to expand the identification and support of at-risk households. When residents consult the 120 Dasan Call Center for emergency support such as basic livelihood security, emergency welfare, care SOS services, or private resource linkage, they are immediately connected to the district’s Welfare Policy Division. After connection, tailored welfare programs are introduced and rapid support is provided.

Jungnang-gu Mayor Ryu Kyung-gi stated, “With the enhanced welfare check service and proactive identification of individuals, we will carefully monitor all at-risk households without neglect.” He added, “We will continue to spare no effort to provide prompt response and support and to build a dense welfare safety net.”

Geumcheon-gu (Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon) announced that it has signed a business agreement with SK Telecom (CEO Yoo Young-sang) to strengthen welfare checks for socially isolated at-risk households and will pilot the AI welfare check system ‘Neighborhood AI Friend’ in October.

‘Neighborhood AI Friend’ uses SK Telecom’s ‘NUGU Biz Call’ to make weekly welfare check calls to 670 socially isolated middle-aged single-person households, inquiring about meals, sleep, health, exercise, and other conditions to assess their status and needs. The call contents are recorded and shared with welfare planners at the local community service centers.

Additionally, through periodic monitoring at the control center, risk signals from the individuals are identified. If a visit is necessary, the responsible public official is notified, and in emergencies, immediate on-site response is dispatched, ensuring the safety of socially isolated at-risk households and preventing solitary deaths.

Geumcheon-gu plans to strengthen the discovery of crisis situations among single-person households based on smart technologies such as the AI welfare check system, Smart Plug, Hello Safety Mobile, and Seoul Salpimi app, aiming to establish a 24-hour safety network for single-person households in the long term.

Geumcheon-gu Mayor Yoo Sung-hoon said, “We hope ‘Neighborhood AI Friend’ becomes a warm friend comforting the hearts of socially isolated middle-aged households.” He added, “We will continue to promote a reliable and dense safety network project for single-person households to prevent solitary deaths.”