Entering a Super-Aged Society... Seoul City Transforms Senior Centers [K Population Strategy]

Seoul City and Welfare Foundation Launch Comprehensive Survey of Senior Centers
Operational Limits Post-Pandemic... Reflecting Demand for New Utilization System
Preliminary Work to Expand 'Smart Gyeongrodang'... Including AI and IoT

Seoul City is attempting changes to senior centers ahead of entering a super-aged society. This is not just about strengthening simple programs for the elderly, but a reorganization of the management and operation system applying smart systems. Since the function of senior centers has significantly declined due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the plan is to address this from a mid- to long-term welfare perspective.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Council on the 9th, Seoul City and its affiliated Seoul Welfare Foundation recently launched a survey to grasp the overall operational status of senior centers in Seoul. A foundation official explained, "This is a process to consider changes in senior centers in response to demographic shifts and increased leisure welfare demands of the elderly," adding, "We will work with Seoul City to establish a new utilization system considering the expansion of the elderly population."

Senior centers, which started as 'Noinjeong' providing socializing and resting spaces for neighborhood elders, were incorporated as legal elderly welfare facilities in the late 1980s but have shown operational limitations. Despite the government investing considerable budgets to strengthen programs, individual activities have not increased, and experts evaluate that they still remain at the level of neighborhood 'sarabang' (community rooms).

After the pandemic, even visitors decreased. As of the end of last year, there are a total of 3,535 senior centers in Seoul, but usage has not increased recently. Some sites have reportedly experienced an increase in accounting issues and conflicts among groups.

However, since the population aged 65 and over is expected to exceed 20% of the total population starting next year, Seoul City plans to utilize senior centers as leisure welfare activity spaces for local elderly residents. This means introducing a sustainable operation system for senior centers, which differs from the program strengthening unilaterally promoted by the government and local governments so far.

Internally, the survey is expected to address the expansion of 'Smart Senior Centers' with the extensive application of advanced technologies. Representative changes in the management system include 'smart home' functions that reduce management burdens using various sensors and smart devices, as well as the use of artificial intelligence (AI), robots, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The plan is to solve care gaps not only in senior centers but also for users, making future monitoring and management easier, according to city officials.

This may also involve the large-scale application of the city's already established smart care system for the elderly. Previously, Seoul City proposed replacing and expanding existing manpower-centered services for the elderly with smart devices. Systems applicable to senior centers include 'companion robots' that protect the health and safety of elderly living alone, as well as automatic 119 emergency calls in case of falls or other urgent situations.

However, experts analyze that more thorough prior review is needed to determine whether such measures will lead to a real increase in users. Systematic budget management guidelines for mid- to long-term operation are also necessary. A foundation official said, "Considerations to facilitate elderly access will also be made, and after detailed survey results come out in the second half of the year, a highly effective policy implementation plan will be established."