Senior All-Purpose Helper 'Dongjak Hyodo Call Center' 1 Year Since Launch... Evolution of Welfare Platform

Seoul's First One-Call Service for Seniors to Resolve Taxi, Care, and Other Issues in One Stop

The ‘Dongjak-gu Senior Happiness Call Center,’ which has served as an all-purpose problem solver for seniors with just one phone call, is evolving by changing its name to the well-deserved ‘Dongjak Hyo-do Call Center’ on its 1st anniversary.

Dongjak-gu (Mayor Park Il-ha) announced that it will hold a 1st anniversary event for the welfare platform ‘Dongjak Hyo-do Call Center,’ which was launched last year as the first of its kind in Seoul, on the 8th.

The event, hosted by the Dongjak Welfare Foundation, will be held at 3 p.m. in the main auditorium of the district office, with about 200 seniors who use the Hyo-do Call Center attending, including Mayor Park Il-ha.

To expand Dongjak-gu’s welfare policies tailored for the elderly, the district changed the name of the ‘Senior Happiness Call Center,’ which opened in March last year, to the ‘Dongjak Hyo-do Call Center’ and will continue the Hyo-do package project.

The ‘Dongjak Hyo-do Call Center’ is a pledge of the 8th local government administration, providing a one-stop comprehensive customized service for seniors, including care, health, leisure, and jobs, by connecting them to professional counselors with a single call to the representative number (1899-2288).

In particular, it is differentiated from other districts by seamlessly linking phone consultations, information provision, and on-site visits, effectively resolving seniors’ difficulties, resulting in a user satisfaction rate exceeding 96%.

Over the past year, the accumulated number of consultations has reached about 9,000, and the rate of phone consultations linked to on-site visits is close to 92%, showing high rates of both new users and repeat usage.

Additionally, since July last year, the district has been operating a Daily Life Support Team to actively respond to ‘care demand,’ which accounts for about 60% of all consultations.

The Daily Life Support Team assists seniors who have difficulty moving alone or with family when urgently visiting hospitals or government offices by promptly dispatching support personnel upon request for accompaniment.

Furthermore, when seniors apply for daily life services such as home repairs or replacement of old appliances, the team visits directly to resolve their inconveniences.

To activate senior mobility support services, the district signed a business agreement (MOU) last October with the Yeongdong branch of the Private Taxi Transport Association and T-money for the ‘Senior Happiness Call Taxi’ project.

In December, the district also signed a ‘Dongjak-gu Happy Corporate Sponsorship Business Agreement’ with 10 companies to expand the provision of necessary goods and services to seniors using the call center.

Mayor Park Il-ha of Dongjak-gu said, “On its 1st anniversary, the Dongjak Hyo-do Call Center is strengthening the services of the existing Senior Happiness Call Center and actively intervening in the lives of seniors. We will continue to create a filial piety city, Dongjak-gu, through customized welfare policies in preparation for a super-aged society.”