Gwangjin-gu Expands Beverage Support for Elderly Living Alone

Age Restrictions Relaxed Starting This Year... Expansion to Low-Income Middle-Aged Single-Person Households Under 60
Delivery Workers Check Safety Daily... Rapid Response Including 119 Emergency Calls in Urgent Situations
First Implemented Nationwide and Actively Promoted Annually... Selected as 'First Government Innovation Case' by Ministry of the Interior and Safety

Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Kyung-ho) is expanding the target recipients of the wellness check beverage support program to include middle-aged single-person households in order to prevent social isolation and solitary deaths among low-income elderly living alone.

The wellness check beverage support program is a welfare service that delivers beverages (Yakult) daily to the homes of low-income elderly individuals aged 60 and over who require wellness checks, thereby monitoring their living conditions. This program, initiated by Gwangjin-gu in collaboration with Korea Yakult, is the first of its kind nationwide and has been implemented annually since 1994.

In particular, it was recognized as an administrative case that enhanced convenience and safety for residents through creative ideas, and last year it achieved the honor of being selected as the "First Government Innovation Case" at the 25th Innovation Relay hosted by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Last year, beverages were provided to a total of 1,398 low-income elderly living alone, including recipients of basic livelihood security and near-poverty groups, while ensuring their safety.

If delivered beverages are left unattended or if abnormal signs such as accumulated mail are discovered, delivery personnel immediately notify the local community service center, and can promptly respond to emergencies by reporting to 112 or 119. Upon receiving reports of incidents, the community service center quickly takes follow-up actions such as contacting guardians.

Until last year, beverage support was provided to legally low-income elderly living alone aged 60 and over, including recipients of basic livelihood security and near-poverty groups, but starting this year, middle-aged single-person households under 60 years old will also be eligible for beverage support benefits.

Low-income elderly households and middle-aged single-person households requiring wellness checks are selected as recipients after verification of health status and income criteria at the local community service center.

The district plans to systematically manage beverage support recipients by signing business agreements with six Yakult sales offices within the region.

Kim Kyung-ho, Mayor of Gwangjin-gu, said, “We have expanded the beverage support recipients to help ensure the safe living of the increasing number of middle-aged single-person households,” and added, “We will continue to actively identify vulnerable groups in welfare blind spots and do our best to establish a thorough care system.”