Seongdong-gu Launches Full-Scale Project to Prevent Solitary Deaths and Combat Social Isolation

Seongdong-gu Invests 580 Million KRW in Five Key Initiatives and 37 Projects
to Prevent Solitary Deaths:
From Identifying and Supporting Isolated Households
to Preventing Re-isolation

Our Neighborhood Care Team Home Visit

Seongdong-gu (Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it has launched the full-scale implementation of the ‘Good Morning Seongdong! Project,’ which identifies socially isolated and at-risk households and provides various welfare services.

As single-person households continue to increase, and with changes to digital communication methods and the COVID-19 pandemic, social isolation has become normalized. This has led to the weakening of traditional social bonds and the emergence of solitary deaths among isolated households as a social issue.

In response, the district is investing a total budget of 580 million KRW to promote the ‘Good Morning Seongdong! Project,’ which supports various initiatives aimed at preventing solitary deaths, from identifying isolated households to providing support and preventing re-isolation.

Specifically, the project implements five major tasks and 37 initiatives to ensure all residents can enjoy a comfortable daily life: ▲ early identification of at-risk households ▲ proactive response to crisis situations using smart technology ▲ formation of social networks to alleviate isolation ▲ customized integrated support based on household characteristics ▲ expansion of public-private cooperation and resident participation projects.

First, to identify at-risk households early, the district operates the ‘Chomchom Discovery Team.’ Composed of dedicated personnel from the district, the team focuses on intensive discovery in vulnerable residential areas and conducts resident outreach. Using 47 types of crisis information through a welfare blind spot detection system and surveys on households at risk of isolation, they proactively identify various warning signs and respond accordingly.

Additionally, through the KakaoTalk channel ‘Seongdong Neighbors Watch,’ accessibility for resident reporting and counseling is enhanced. The district also operates the ‘Seongdong Welfare Counseling Center,’ which has strengthened comprehensive welfare consultation functions to connect residents with customized welfare services. For identified at-risk households, smart care services are provided that diagnose needs and isolation risk levels by target group and continuously monitor safety.

Various care services utilizing smart technology are also offered. Representative examples include ▲ the ‘Smart Check-in Service,’ which detects call history and walking patterns ▲ the ‘Happy Community’ using artificial intelligence (AI) speakers ▲ the ‘Smart Plug’ that monitors household electricity usage ▲ and the ‘Vulnerable Elderly Safety Management Solution (IoT),’ which monitors movement, temperature, lighting, and humidity of vulnerable seniors. Currently, a total of 4,147 people receive customized services based on age and lifestyle habits.

Notably, analysis of emergency situation reports for vulnerable groups over the past three years shows that 60% of emergency discoveries by public officials were made early through alerts from the ‘Smart Check-in Service’ (call history management). In the case of the ‘Happy Community’ project using AI speakers, improvements in work procedures and specific handling criteria led to seven emergency rescue services last year, including 119 emergency calls and hospital transfers.

The district plans to operate a control center during nights and weekends to proactively respond to emergencies and build a more meticulous care safety net that overcomes limitations of time and manpower.

For isolated households with severed social ties, various human safety nets centered on local residents provide psychological and emotional support. Social network formation programs are also offered to enhance social independence capabilities.

‘Our Neighborhood Care Group’ and ‘Resident Caregivers’ are resident organizations that perform welfare checks by regularly visiting isolated households, confirming daily safety, and encouraging regular outings to maintain social activities and provide emotional support.

Last year, three neighborhoods and the Comprehensive Social Welfare Center collaborated on the ‘Community Space Creation and Network Formation Project.’ A survey of 98 participants showed a 0.63-point increase in social connection index and a 0.47-point decrease in loneliness scale, demonstrating the project’s effectiveness. This year, the project will expand to six neighborhoods and develop into a sustainable network formation initiative planned and participated in by residents, the Comprehensive Social Welfare Center, and the local community security council.

Furthermore, to actively respond to complex forms of isolation and solitary deaths arising from social and structural changes, the district operates a dedicated solitary death prevention council composed of 18 private organizations and 11 related agencies including fire stations and police stations. This is expected to present an integrated approach to previously fragmented public-private projects. In addition, the district plans to strengthen the local protection system by discussing local-level solitary death prevention measures and conducting campaigns to raise social awareness about isolation.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “We are making our best efforts by pooling public and private capabilities to actively identify socially isolated and at-risk households and prevent solitary deaths in advance.” He added, “We will continue to carefully monitor the daily lives of all residents, including at-risk households, together with the local community to create a happier Seongdong.”