Seongdong-gu Partners with Public and Private Sectors to Prevent Resident Solitary Deaths

Operation of Programs for Social Network Formation Through Cooperation Among Community Centers, Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers, and Local Community Security Councils
Gardening, Crafts, Cooking, and More...
Living Coupons for Daily Life Recovery of Socially Isolated Households,
Housing Environment Improvement with Cleaning, Organizing, and Repair Services,
Support for Unclaimed Deceased Individuals, and Strengthening the Social Safety Net

Seongdong-gu (District Mayor Jung Won-oh) announced that it is actively promoting the 'Connection Link Project' based on cooperation among local institutions to alleviate social isolation and prevent solitary deaths.

Seongdong-gu has continuously expanded the 'Connection Link Project' for preventing social isolation since being selected in 2022 for the Ministry of Health and Welfare's pilot project on 'Social Network Formation.' This project has established itself as a successful model for social isolation prevention initiatives.

The 'Connection Link Project' aims to early identify socially isolated households through public-private cooperation, provide and connect customized services to alleviate feelings of isolation, and prevent solitary deaths.

Accordingly, the project strengthens the social safety net through ▲identification and management of socially isolated households using smart technology and human safety nets ▲improvement of living environments to encourage isolated households to go out ▲operation of community spaces and network formation programs ▲support for unclaimed deceased individuals (post-management), among other efforts.

A survey conducted last year on 98 residents who participated in the project showed that exchanges among participants were activated, with the social network index rising by 0.63 points from 2.29 to 2.92, and the loneliness scale decreasing by 0.47 points from 2.07 to 1.60, indicating a significant alleviation of psychological isolation.

Public support from institutions increased by 0.4 persons from 0.9 to 1.3, and private support from family and neighbors rose by 0.5 persons from 1.05 to 1.51, further strengthening the social support base of participants.

This year, the 'Network Formation Program' will expand from the existing 3 neighborhoods to 4 neighborhoods including Wangsimni Doseon-dong, Wangsimni 2-ga-dong, Eungbong-dong, and Seongsu 1-ga 2-dong. Seongdong, Oksu, and Seongsu Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers, along with the local community security council, will collaborate to conduct various group activities such as gardening, crafts, and cooking, focusing on supporting the formation of social networks for isolated households.

The program operation spaces will actively utilize resident hub spaces such as welfare centers and senior centers within the district, creating a communication venue that fosters communal bonds based on continuous interaction.

Additionally, a lifestyle improvement project will be promoted to help socially isolated households return to daily life and participate in society by providing living coupons to encourage the use of local shops such as restaurants and markets.

Furthermore, a new housing environment improvement project will be launched to mitigate the risk factors of solitary deaths among housing-vulnerable households. For households with poor living conditions due to factors such as hoarding disorder, cleaning, organizing, and repair services will be provided to offer a healthy living environment and help restore psychological stability.

Support and post-management for unclaimed deceased individuals will also be a key focus. Assistance will be provided for the sorting of belongings and special cleaning for residents who died without relatives, fulfilling the public responsibility and role to ensure they are remembered with dignity.

Jung Won-oh, Mayor of Seongdong-gu, stated, “The 'Connection Link Project,' based on public-private cooperation, has proven to be very effective in strengthening community bonds and alleviating social isolation.” He added, “By implementing customized support policies that reflect residents’ perspectives and needs, we will further solidify social networks and complete Seongdong as a warm and inclusive city where residents care for one another.”