Main Conference Room and 25 Smart Senior Centers Connected via Video, 370 Attendees
Expansion to 60 Centers by Next Year... Strengthening Digital Transition Support for Seniors
On December 15, the Pohang City Government held the "2025 Pohang-Style Smart Senior Center Opening Ceremony" at the City Hall's main conference room, officially launching digital welfare services for seniors.
The event was conducted simultaneously by connecting the main conference room and 25 Smart Senior Centers in towns and districts via video conferencing. Over 370 people attended, including Mayor Lee Kangdeok of Pohang, city and provincial council members, Park Subok, head of the Pohang branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, and members of the senior centers.
Of particular note, a progress report on the operation of the Smart Senior Centers was presented, followed by a live online demonstration featuring senior participants, which drew significant attention. Seniors in attendance experienced a new form of communication by exchanging greetings in real time with City Hall using video equipment.
Pohang-Style Smart Senior Centers Officially Opened to Provide Integrated Support for Elderly Life, Safety, and Learning. Photo by Pohang City
This year, Pohang City invested a total of 300 million won to establish 25 Smart Senior Centers and has been conducting a pilot operation since November 11. During the pilot period, more than 500 to 600 seniors used the facilities, and satisfaction with leisure and health programs was reported to be high.
The newly established Smart Senior Centers will regularly offer customized health and leisure programs for seniors, such as silver gymnastics, yoga, singing classes, and laughter therapy, all delivered through a video conferencing system.
The Smart Senior Centers are also equipped with safety and convenience features. An IoT-based smart safety system with fire and gas detection functions has been installed, which automatically reports incidents to emergency services (119) in case of an accident. This is an automated response system that does not require dedicated monitoring personnel.
In addition, to minimize the burden of equipment use for seniors, the video equipment is controlled remotely, allowing participation in programs without the need for separate operational training. Starting in 2026, the city plans to assign Smart Senior Center managers as senior job positions to support operations and encourage broader participation.
The project also includes the installation of a remote multi-directional video system in 25 Smart Senior Centers and learning spaces, the establishment of one smart studio for lectures within the Senior Welfare Center, and the development of an integrated platform and administrator website.
Pohang City plans to expand the number of Smart Senior Centers to a total of 60 by 2026. The city is also considering increasing the project budget per center to include improvements such as smart environments with heating and cooling functions.
Mayor Lee Kangdeok stated, "The Smart Senior Center is a core model of Pohang-style digital welfare that provides integrated support for seniors' leisure, learning, health, and safety. We will continue to expand and operate these centers effectively to ensure that seniors are not left behind in the era of digital transformation."
Pohang City plans to use the Smart Senior Centers as hubs to gradually expand non-face-to-face health management, safety monitoring, and digital experience programs, thereby working to improve the quality of life for seniors and create a safer environment for their later years.
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