'End-of-Life Care' to Be Implemented for the First Time in Korea in Busan

Busan Launches 'End-of-Life Reassurance Care Service' from the 24th
Comprehensive Support Linking Care Services, Hospice, and Public Funerals
Household and Daily Living Assistance for Terminal Patients

A citizen service to ensure that citizens in the final stage of life experience a 'dignified death (well-dying)' will be implemented for the first time in the country in Busan.

The Busan Metropolitan Government (Mayor Park Hyungjoon) announced on the 23rd that it will launch the 'End-of-Life Reassurance Care Service' for well-dying patients starting from the 24th.

Busan planned this project to address the current lack of daily living support services for end-of-life patients in the existing care system.

This service is a comprehensive care program that provides end-of-life patients with household assistance and daily living support by linking care services, hospice care, and public funerals. The goal is to help patients maintain their dignity until the very last moment.

The 'Safe Care Service for Discharged Patients' through the dispatch of professional personnel.

The main components of the 'care service' include: household activities such as cooking, meal preparation, and cleaning; daily living support such as accompanying patients to government offices; health maintenance such as medication guidance and exercise support; emotional support to prevent depression; and personal hygiene such as washing and oral care.

The 'hospice' service provides pain and symptom management, emotional care, and connections to medical institutions. For those without family or acquaintances, the 'public funeral' service is linked to ensure a dignified farewell for the deceased.

End-of-life patients referred by the Busan Metropolitan Hospice and Palliative Care Center can use the service regardless of income or assets if they have no guardian or experience a care gap.

The service fee is up to 17,800 KRW per hour, and for recipients and those in the lower-income bracket (70% or less of the median income), the city covers the full cost.

The service is provided for 4 hours a day, 5 days a week, for one month (4 weeks), and can be extended to 2 months (8 weeks) if necessary, allowing for a maximum of 3 months (12 weeks) of support.

As part of the 8th popularly elected administration's pledge to build a 'comprehensive community care system,' Busan has been promoting the 'Busan Together Care' project, which includes post-discharge patient care and hospital accompaniment services. The 'End-of-Life Reassurance Care Service' has now been added to this initiative.

Since 2019, Busan has expanded its community integrated care project into the 'Busan Together Care' initiative last year, adding post-discharge patient care and hospital accompaniment services to the existing household and meal support services. In 2024, a total of 14,461 people used these services.

Furthermore, with the law on integrated support for local care, including medical and nursing services, set to take effect next year, the city plans to provide a variety of services that link medical care and support, and to establish a Busan-style integrated medical and care support system.

Mayor Park Hyungjoon stated, "The End-of-Life Reassurance Care Service, the first of its kind in Korea, is expected to contribute to building a warm community as a new care model to respond to a super-aged society by expanding social networks. We will do our best to make Busan a city where all citizens enjoy healthy and happy lives throughout their entire life cycle."

Hospital Safe Companion Service Through Vehicle Accompanying Manager.