Gangnam-gu Carefully Supports Vulnerable Groups During Extended Chuseok Holiday

Support of 1.24973 Billion KRW in Consolation Money to 34,471 Households Including National Merit Recipients, Low-Income Families, Single-Parent Families, and Disabled... 1,235 High-Risk Solitary Death Households Selected Through Single-Person Household Survey... AI, Phone, and Visits Used for Welfare Checks -

Gangnam-gu (District Mayor Jo Seong-myeong) provided 1.24973 billion KRW in support to 34,471 vulnerable households during this Chuseok holiday. In addition, special welfare checks will be conducted for 1,235 single-person households at risk of solitary death.

Over 1.2 billion KRW in consolation money and goods delivered to vulnerable groups for a warm holiday

Before the holiday, from the 15th to the 25th, the district delivered consolation money totaling 1.01629 billion KRW to 17,304 people. Recipients included national veterans and veterans’ organizations, low-income households earning less than 120% of the median income, low-income single-parent families, foster children, residents of facilities for the disabled, child care facilities, and women’s welfare facilities.

The district also enhanced warm sharing by providing consolation goods throughout the community. At 22 neighborhood community centers, 6 comprehensive social welfare centers, 6 disability welfare centers, 163 senior centers, and 27 home care facilities for the elderly, holiday gift sets, rice cakes, fruits, and other items worth approximately 177.44 million KRW were delivered to 14,615 vulnerable individuals. In particular, each neighborhood community center, in cooperation with the local community security council, provided rice, ramen, holiday gift sets, and health foods to 2,570 households through 49 support projects tailored to the characteristics of each area. At 10 senior dining halls including Gangnam Senior Plaza, festive holiday meals such as songpyeon (rice cakes), pork ribs, assorted jeon (Korean pancakes), and japchae were served from the 26th to the 27th.

From the 20th to the 27th, 11.24 million KRW was provided for 18 holiday events held at community centers and welfare centers. About 2,070 vulnerable people enjoyed holiday activities including making songpyeon and traditional sweets, celebratory performances, singing parties, bazaars, and traditional games.

Welfare checks for 1,235 single-person households at risk of solitary death

During the long holiday, special attention is given to single-person households at risk of solitary death. From October 2022 to January 2023, the district conducted a survey using a solitary death risk checklist on 4,025 single-person households. Excluding those who moved out, live in other regions, or are admitted to nursing facilities, 1,235 households at actual risk were selected. Their lists were sent to each neighborhood community center in August and September, and welfare check services were linked.

The welfare check services include ▲KT phone calls twice a week ▲AI welfare checks once a week ▲smart plug services that detect risk by measuring changes in TV and electricity usage and lighting brightness. Among the selected risk group, 850 households are receiving these welfare check services. The 385 households that do not wish to receive welfare checks are directly managed by welfare planners at the neighborhood community centers.

In March, the AI welfare check service helped rescue Mr. A (65) from a crisis. The control center detected a distress signal through an AI call, prompting a neighborhood community center staff member to make an emergency visit and find Mr. A in an unconscious state, after which 119 emergency services were called and he was transported to the hospital.

The district plans to continue expanding the single-person household survey. In the second half of this year, the survey will be strengthened for housing-vulnerable single-person households aged 50 and over. Re-surveys will also be conducted for both isolated risk groups and non-risk groups to update the list of subjects.

Jo Seong-myeong, Mayor of Gangnam-gu, stated, “During this Chuseok holiday, which has been extended due to substitute holidays, we provided multifaceted support so that vulnerable groups do not feel isolated or neglected. We will do our best to ensure that the increasing number of isolated single-person households can feel the warm spirit of the local community.”