Gangbuk-gu, Recruiting 'Our Neighborhood Care Team,' the Key Player in Preventing Solitary Deaths

Recruitment Until January 2, 2024? In-Person Registration at 13 Dong Community Centers in Gangbuk-gu
Regular Welfare Checks and Social Network Formation for Households at Risk of Solitary Death

Gangbuk-gu, Seoul (Mayor Lee Soon-hee) is publicly recruiting participants for the 2024 Our Neighborhood Care Team to monitor socially isolated households and prevent lonely deaths.

Our Neighborhood Care Team is a project where local residents who know the neighborhood well check on households at risk of lonely death at least once a week, forming a network among neighbors. They regularly check on their status through phone calls and visits, and if someone needs help, they connect them to the local community service center.

This year, 54 members of the Our Neighborhood Care Team in Gangbuk-gu conducted welfare check activities targeting households at risk of lonely death and vulnerable groups. In addition, in 13 neighborhoods, the care team was utilized for the "Socially Isolated Household Network Formation Project," carrying out various activities such as walks and outings, cooking programs, and laughter therapy classes.

The district plans to expand the number of participants to 56 in 2024 to strengthen the focused welfare check system for households at risk of lonely death. At the same time, the months with the highest number of deaths?January to March and December?will be designated as special lonely death prevention periods, during which welfare checks will be conducted at least once a week not only for households at risk of lonely death but also for other vulnerable groups, thereby establishing a dense welfare safety net.

The recruitment target is residents of Gangbuk-gu who are highly interested in helping neighbors in need and passionate about promoting social welfare. However, those with disqualifying reasons such as criminal records, or those currently participating in government job programs or the Seoul 50 Plus Volunteer Job Program, are excluded.

Activity hours are up to 48 hours per month (3 days a week, 12 hours total, within 4 hours per day), and participants receive a monthly activity allowance of up to 396,000 KRW. Participants must take training provided by the Seoul Welfare Foundation and the local government to enhance their capabilities and perform meaningful activities. They are also required to attend general meetings at the community service center and local gatherings to share activity cases and actively contribute to community welfare.

Residents wishing to participate in Our Neighborhood Care Team can check the recruitment announcement posted on the Gangbuk-gu website and submit the application form and self-introduction letter in person to the community service center where they wish to be active by January 2. For more details, inquiries can be made to the Gangbuk-gu Welfare Policy Division.

Lee Soon-hee, Mayor of Gangbuk-gu, said, “We will continue to carefully monitor isolated households and other residents in need of care through Our Neighborhood Care Team to build a seamless welfare safety net.”