Delivery started on the 7th for 55 single-person households under 65
Yogurt delivery workers deliver check-in drinks three times a week to recipients' addresses
Aiming to reduce welfare blind spots for 50-64 age group with high solitary death rates
Yongsan-gu, Seoul (District Mayor Park Hee-young) started delivering check-in beverages for young and middle-aged adults from the 7th. This is part of a project to prevent solitary deaths among those under 65.
Among the solitary death occurrences identified by the district over five years from 2019 to last year, people in their 50s accounted for about 44%, the largest portion. Approximately 81% of the solitary death cases were also recipients of social benefits.
Solitary death refers to a person living in social isolation, cut off from interaction with others, who dies without any care. Seoul classifies deaths discovered after 3 days (72 hours) as solitary deaths.
The check-in project has mainly focused on seniors aged 65 and older. This year, it is being piloted for the first time targeting young and middle-aged adults, who had been excluded from the project despite a high solitary death rate. Health beverages are provided three times a week to promote health and prevent solitary deaths through check-ins.
Fifty-five single-person households under 65 years old, vulnerable to social solidarity, were selected as recipients. The district signed a business agreement with HY Co., Ltd. Gangbuk branch, and yogurt delivery workers, familiarly known as “Yakult Ajumma,” deliver the beverages on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
If any health abnormalities or personal issues are identified during the beverage delivery for check-ins, or if beverages are left unattended indicating risk signs, the case is immediately reported to the local community service center.
In addition to the check-in beverages, essential goods packages are also provided to help recipients break out of isolated daily lives. These packages are support items delivered during home visits by local care groups.
Park Hee-young, Mayor of Yongsan-gu, said, “We expect the pilot project for check-in beverage support for young and middle-aged adults to prevent solitary deaths among those in welfare blind spots,” adding, “We will continue to build a dense welfare network so that our marginalized neighbors can be closely connected to society.”
Meanwhile, this year the district has established three major strategies to prevent solitary deaths: ▲building a constant detection system ▲strengthening connections and care to resolve social isolation ▲linking welfare services by life cycle, carrying out 22 core tasks. Key projects include smart plugs, AI check-in services, Yongsan welfare registration, and a reward system for reporting crisis households.
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