On the 9th, over 240 welfare officials gathered at the district office auditorium for lectures, case presentations, and in-depth discussions... Seogangseok, Songpa District Mayor, stated, "We will eliminate formalities and customs to ensure benefits properly reach recipients."
“Please become a simple link of connection as just a ‘neighbor next door,’ not as a volunteer who seems to take responsibility for one person's life or a lonely neighbor.”
This was the message shared by a member of the Happy Fence Committee during a case presentation at the Social Isolation Prevention Forum held at Songpa District Office on the 9th. The presenter received great applause for sharing a heartwarming story about registering a solitary elderly person suspected of alcohol addiction as a basic livelihood security recipient and helping them return healthily to the community.
As solitary deaths have recently emerged as a social issue, Songpa District (Mayor Seo Gang-seok) held a forum under the theme “The Age of Isolation, Community-Centered Discovery and Connection,” opening a public discussion to establish measures to respond to social isolation.
At the event, 240 stakeholders including welfare institution practitioners, experts, and residents participating in welfare communities attended. The forum lasted about three hours, proceeding with a first part of keynote lectures followed by case presentations and panel discussions in the second part.
In the first part, senior researcher Song In-ju from the Seoul Welfare Foundation, who appeared on the TV program ‘Sebasi,’ proposed administrative-level methods for identifying isolated households. Then, Kim Wan, CEO of the special cleaning service company Hardworks and author of Cleaning the House of the Dead, explained the risks of social isolation based on years of field experience.
In the second part, actual case presentations by welfare institution practitioners and resident activists followed. Notably, one presenter shared feelings of guilt experienced due to a solitary death encountered during activities with the Our Neighborhood Care Group and the process of overcoming it, resonating with the audience. In-depth discussions among panelists continued, providing an opportunity for various stakeholders to brainstorm effective practical measures.
Additionally, a ‘Promotion Zone’ was operated on-site, showcasing projects actively promoted by the district and 11 local welfare institutions, attracting attention. It allowed attendees to share at a glance the numerous helping hands within a single local community, adding significance to the forum. The event was recorded on video and will be used as internal educational material.
Meanwhile, this forum was planned to solidly advance the ‘Songpa District Solitary Death Prevention and Social Isolation Household Support Comprehensive Plan’ established last August. The district signed business agreements with 10 resident-contact institutions such as water and electricity providers in September to detect early signs of solitary death, and held two working-level meetings in October, steadily laying the groundwork for project implementation.
Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, “We will break away from formalities and conventions and carry out creative and innovative administration to ensure that benefits are properly delivered to recipients.” He added, “By reflecting the voices of experts and the field, we will spare no warm and meticulous support so that all members of the community can walk together happily.”
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