5 Major Tasks, 71 Projects... 6.7 Trillion Won Invested Over 5 Years
Basic Pension to Be Paid to 287,000 People Annually Until 2027
[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gangwon Province has established the 'Gangwon-type Basic Plan for Elderly Welfare' to respond to a super-aged society.
According to the province, based on the principle of 'guaranteeing a dignified old age where seniors can live well,' five promotion strategies including old-age income security and 71 core projects have been selected, with plans to invest 6.7 trillion KRW over five years from this year to 2027.
As of the end of last year, among the approximately 1.53 million population of Gangwon Province, 22.8%, or about 349,000 people, are aged 65 or older.
The province plans to provide basic pensions to an average of 287,000 elderly people annually (with a benefit rate of over 71%) by 2027 to ensure that Gangwon seniors do not experience income gaps.
To alleviate poverty through public pensions and guarantee basic living, about 66,300 senior jobs and 630 jobs for the middle-aged will be created, and the Gangwon-type public blanket laundry service will be expanded to 25 locations.
The 'Senior Hospital Accompaniment Service' will start with three pilot projects this year and expand to 18 cities and counties next year. Additionally, a '(tentative name) Gangwon-type Senior Safety Integrated Care Project' model will be developed targeting cities and counties lacking elderly welfare infrastructure.
The dementia response system will be strengthened by public guardianship for severe dementia elderly, operation of remote dementia clinics, dementia patient registration management, and treatment support as part of 'Gangwon-type Home Care for Seniors.'
To expand preventive health and medical service care systems, chronic disease remote consultation (Gangwon Health-up) and AI-IoT based health management services through health management apps will be expanded.
Along with this, hospice beds will be increased to 121 over five years, and public health projects reflecting regional characteristics and medical service improvement projects in farming and fishing villages will be promoted.
Protection zones will be expanded in areas with frequent elderly pedestrian accidents, support for voluntary surrender of driver's licenses by elderly drivers and special transportation means will be expanded. Customized housing welfare infrastructure such as filial piety apartments and senior welfare housing will also be expanded.
In addition, support for revitalizing leisure culture through senior centers and construction of senior halls will be carried out, operating elderly leisure welfare infrastructure and programs.
Lee Kyung-hee, Director of Welfare at Gangwon Province, said, "Despite difficult financial conditions, we plan to expand essential core projects to improve elderly welfare," adding, "We will do our best to ensure that seniors in Gangwon Province can spend a comfortable and dignified old age."
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