'Prevent Solitary Death' Prevention Support Ordinance Passed at Gwangju City Council Plenary Session

Representative Kang Su-hoon's Proposal

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] An efficient support system tailored to the characteristics of at-risk individuals for solitary deaths, which have been socially isolated and neglected, will be established in Gwangju City.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Council on the 6th, Councilor Kang Suhoon (Democratic Party of Korea, Seo-gu 1), who proposed the ordinance, saw the "Gwangju Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Prevention of Solitary Deaths and Support for Socially Isolated Households" pass the plenary session.

This ordinance was prepared as a policy response to the socially problematic issue of "solitary deaths" to support the prevention of solitary deaths targeting socially isolated households across all age groups.

Until now, Gwangju City had limited the target of solitary death prevention to elderly people aged 65 and over through the "Gwangju Metropolitan City Ordinance on the Prevention of Solitary Deaths among Elderly Living Alone."

According to the "Solitary Death Survey" announced by the Ministry of Health and Welfare at the end of last year, 551 people have died alone in the Gwangju area over the past five years.

The number has been steadily increasing every year, and the proportion of solitary deaths among total deaths is 1.4%, higher than the national average of 1.1%.

Councilor Kang said, "The problem of solitary deaths, which have been socially isolated and neglected, is becoming increasingly serious. The UK and Japan have already established loneliness departments to provide comprehensive and systematic management," adding, "Through this ordinance, we have identified risk factors for solitary deaths in advance and established an efficient support system tailored to the characteristics of at-risk individuals."