Gwangju City Implements Protection Measures for Vulnerable Groups During Winter Cold Wave

‘AI Utilization’ Proactive Identification of High-Risk Groups for Solitary Death
Integrated Care Support Linked to Welfare Blind Spot Crisis Households

Gwangju City is implementing a protection plan for vulnerable groups that focuses on identifying and supporting households in crisis who are overlooked in winter welfare. The photo shows a care worker visiting a vulnerable household to check on their well-being. Photo by Gwangju City

Gwangju City announced on the 15th that it will implement support measures to protect the daily lives of vulnerable groups this winter, as temperatures are expected to be highly volatile due to abnormal climate conditions.

The city will focus on identifying and supporting households in crisis that fall within welfare blind spots. To this end, it will utilize big data on crisis information such as histories of power, water, or gas disconnections and unpaid bills to identify elderly living alone, disabled individuals, and housing-vulnerable groups, linking them to emergency welfare programs. Support will be provided for living expenses (713,000 KRW), housing costs (398,000 KRW), fuel costs (150,000 KRW), and medical expenses (up to 3 million KRW).

Emergency shelter and heating supplies will be provided for cold-vulnerable groups such as homeless people and residents of small rooms. Additionally, the city will operate a continuous protection system by strengthening on-site protection activities for street homeless individuals. About 250 neighborhood caregivers will regularly visit approximately 500 isolated and disconnected households to check on their well-being to prevent solitary deaths. For citizens who do not meet the qualifications for existing care services, the city plans to connect them to the Gwangju-daum Integrated Care program to ensure they can spend the winter warmly with thorough support.

Furthermore, heating costs ranging from 500,000 to 800,000 KRW will be differentially supported for 348 households including social welfare facilities, organizations, and lower-income groups. For 1,389 senior centers, a total of 2.8 billion KRW will be provided over five months at 400,000 KRW per month. To protect elderly living alone and disabled individuals against cold waves, about 900 life support workers will implement protection measures such as ICT-based welfare calls, visit checks, and heating inspections targeting 21,000 people. Influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations will be provided free of charge to seniors aged 65 and older, and a surveillance system for cold-related illnesses will be continuously operated in cooperation with 26 emergency room medical institutions.

Son Oksu, Director of the Welfare and Health Bureau, stated, “Gwangju City plans to strengthen care, heating, safety, and health to proactively identify and promptly support welfare crisis households during the winter.” He emphasized, “As a standard for Korea’s care policy and this year’s representative innovation case of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Gwangju-daum Integrated Care City will strive to ensure that no one is left out and that everyone receives warm and thorough welfare services.”