Seongdong-gu's 'Todak Todak, Donghaeng Project' for Single-Person Households... Increasing Social Interaction and Reducing Loneliness

Survey on Socially Isolated Single-Person Households Identifies 2,761 At-Risk Households; Welfare Safety Net Established Using Smart Technology and Human Safety Networks for Welfare Checks... Collaboration with Welfare Centers and Support Programs Including Living Coupons for 98 Households at Risk of Social Isolation and Solitary Death Prevention

Seongdong-gu, Seoul (Mayor Jung Won-oh) has found that the frequency of social interactions increased and feelings of loneliness decreased through the ‘Todak Todak, Together Project’ initiative aimed at preventing solitary deaths and social isolation.

Seongdong-gu has approximately 59,000 single-person households, accounting for 44.4% of all households. The number of socially isolated households living cut off from external contact continues to rise, and the subjects and forms of isolation, such as youth solitary deaths, have diversified, becoming a greater social issue.

In response, the district launched the ‘Todak Todak, Together Project’ in February to minimize social isolation based on public-private cooperation. Key initiatives include ▲ identifying and managing socially isolated households using smart technology and human safety networks ▲ operating programs to support relationship building ▲ providing lifestyle coupons to encourage outings.

First, from December last year to June this year, the district conducted a survey on socially isolated single-person households and identified 2,761 households at risk. The social isolation risk group refers to people who lack social relationships or have limited external interactions, thus classified as having a high risk of solitary death and isolation.

For households at risk of isolation, the district implemented check-in services using smart technology such as ▲ mobile phone call and message monitoring ‘Smart Check-in’ ▲ AI speaker ‘Happy Community’ offering emergency SOS services and various content ▲ power usage detection and monitoring ‘Smart Plug.’ Utilizing smart technology improved data management efficiency and enabled early detection of warning signs, enhancing response speed.

Additionally, the district made special efforts to build a dense welfare safety net by regularly checking on residents and conducting solitary death prevention campaigns through human safety networks such as ‘Our Neighborhood Care Team’ and ‘Honorary Social Welfare Officers.’

For 98 households at risk of social isolation and solitary death, the district promoted projects to build social networks in cooperation with local welfare centers.

In collaboration with Seongdong Senior Welfare Center, the ‘Together, Fit Body! Fit Mind!’ program was conducted to promote health among socially isolated households. A total of 37 households from 9 neighborhoods participated, communicating one-on-one with the local community security council, enjoying healing health exercises and park golf indoors and outdoors, providing opportunities to build social bonds.

Furthermore, Wangsimni 2-dong, Oksu-dong, and Songjeong-dong collaborated with local comprehensive social welfare centers to form resident self-help groups. A total of 61 households participated in emotional support programs such as gardening and crafts, as well as relationship-building programs including cooking and sharing side dishes.

Survey results conducted before and after program participation showed that average private support increased from 1.05 to 1.51 persons, and public support rose from 0.9 to 1.3 persons. Private support refers to individuals such as family, relatives, and neighbors who can provide personal help, while public support refers to institutions or people such as community centers and social workers that provide public assistance.

Moreover, the social network index, indicating the frequency of contact and outings with others, improved from 2.29 to 2.92, and the loneliness scale, which measures restrictions on interaction or feelings of alienation, decreased from 2.07 to 1.6.

In addition, the district supported ‘lifestyle coupons’ usable at local stores closely related to daily life such as side dish shops, restaurants, and marts to encourage outings and communication with the community for socially isolated households. The district also provided post-mortem support such as organizing belongings and special cleaning for unclaimed deceased suspected of solitary death.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “The ‘Todak Todak, Together Project’ is a meaningful initiative jointly promoted by the public and private sectors to prevent social isolation among single-person households and build a seamless and dense welfare safety net.” He added, “We will continue to do our best to create a happy and inclusive city Seongdong where no one is left out.”