Donghae City Gains Attention with 'Small-to-Medium City Senior Welfare Model' for a Super-Aged Society

Donghae City to Achieve Record Participation of 5,724 Seniors in 2026
Selected as "Outstanding Institution" for Senior Employment Two Years in a Row
Basic Pension and Occupational Pension Recipients Aged 65 and Over

As Korea enters a super-aged society, Donghae City is drawing attention for establishing a welfare model for the elderly in small and medium-sized cities through its senior employment policies.

Donghae Senior Welfare Center conducted safety education on the 6th. Photo by Donghae City

Donghae City in Gangwon Province was selected as an excellent institution for two consecutive years in the 2024 and 2025 evaluations of the Senior Employment and Social Activity Support Project. Additionally, the city was chosen for the specialized '100-Year-Old Senior Employment Project,' further expanding senior job opportunities while simultaneously implementing projects to improve and renovate workplace environments.

As of the end of 2025, the population of Donghae City aged 65 and older is projected to reach 22,909. To proactively respond to the super-aged society, the city is promoting customized job opportunities and social activity support for seniors as core welfare policies.

Last year, Donghae City operated senior employment projects across 68 programs, with 5,561 seniors participating. This year, the city expanded the program to 69 projects, accommodating 5,724 participants, and completed recruitment at the end of December 2023. The program has been advanced by focusing on public interest activities and competency-based jobs that contribute to the local community, moving beyond mere income support.

The main projects are concentrated in areas such as children's traffic guidance, village environment protection, and volunteer support at senior centers, focusing on local safety and public interest. In 2026, the city plans to add three new pilot projects, including a specialized childcare support program.

In particular, Donghae City is strengthening a mutual care system where seniors care for other seniors by deploying about 300 elderly participants in the care sector through the 'Care-Type Senior Employment Project,' a pledge from the 8th popularly elected administration. This is being recognized as a productive senior employment model that fosters mutual growth with the local community, going beyond participatory jobs.

Currently, Donghae City's senior employment projects are systematically operated through four entrusted organizations: Donghae Senior Club, the Donghae Branch of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, Donghae Senior Welfare Center, and Mukho Senior Welfare Center.

In addition, to ensure that participating seniors can work in a healthy and safe environment, the Donghae Senior Welfare Center conducted safety education from January 6 to 7, and the Donghae Senior Club will hold safety training at the Donghae Lifelong Learning Center auditorium on January 20.

Kim Mikyung, Director of Family Affairs, stated, "Senior employment is not just a welfare program, but a core policy that transforms the experience and capabilities of seniors into assets for the community. We will continue to collaborate with private professional organizations to provide a safe working environment and customized education, and to spread a sustainable senior employment model suited to the conditions of small and medium-sized cities."