'1 Trillion Won Era for Elderly Budget' in Incheon City... Expanding Comprehensive Care, Jobs, and Leisure Programs

Annual 80,000 KRW Welfare Card for Low-Income Seniors Aged 75 and Over
Start of 'Customized Senior Care Service' Integrating 6 Elderly Care Programs
Free Wi-Fi Installed in Senior Centers and Safety Phones Provided to Elderly Living Alone
Record Budget Increase for Senior Jobs, Creating Over 40,000 Positions

Active Seniors in Incheon City 'Silver Barista'
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Incheon City has entered the era of a 1 trillion KRW budget for the elderly sector for the first time this year.

The city announced on the 30th that it will invest 1.1176 trillion KRW in the elderly sector budget this year, a 20.6% increase from last year's 926.4 billion KRW, significantly expanding support policies so that seniors can engage in various social activities and enjoy a happy old age without economic difficulties.

The city plans to implement meticulous care projects targeting seniors who are in urgent need of social protection and focus on stabilizing the living conditions of low-income elderly people.

Accordingly, starting this year, for the first time nationwide, welfare cards worth 80,000 KRW per person annually will be provided to basic livelihood security recipients and near-poverty groups aged 75 and older. The cards are planned to be distributed on October 2, 'Hyo Day' (Filial Piety Day), and approximately 41,421 seniors in Incheon are expected to benefit.

Additionally, the maximum basic pension support of 300,000 KRW will be expanded from the bottom 20% income bracket to the bottom 40%, strengthening welfare for elderly people facing economic difficulties due to low retirement income. This year, 277,753 seniors will benefit. Applications can be made not only at community centers and the National Pension Service but also online via Bokjiro (www.bokjiro.go.kr).

The elderly care projects, which were previously divided into six categories, will be integrated and reorganized into a new 'Customized Elderly Care Service.'

Previously, overlapping support was prohibited among basic elderly care services, comprehensive elderly care services, short-term housekeeping services, social relationship activation for solitary elderly, early solitary elderly independence support, and community resource linkage, allowing only one service to be used. However, from this year, the major difference is that customized services will be provided after consultation according to each individual's needs.

Eligibility for application includes basic livelihood security recipients, near-poverty groups, or basic pension recipients aged 65 or older who live alone, in grandparent-grandchild households, or otherwise require care.

Job and leisure projects to promote a vibrant life for seniors entering their second act will also be expanded.

First, the city will install and support free Wi-Fi in 1,054 senior centers and transform idle spaces in 10 military/district-run senior centers into themed community spaces such as shared kitchens and small libraries, opening them to residents. This is expected to expand spaces where seniors can enjoy high-quality cultural life and communicate with local residents.

Moreover, various elderly welfare facilities will be expanded to support seniors' cultural, hobby activities, and social participation. This year, six facilities will open, including Gwanggyo Senior Welfare Center in Michuhol-gu, Baengnyeong Senior Cultural Center in Ongjin-gun, Mok-sang-dong District Senior Center in Gyeyang-gu, and Won-dang, Dangha, and Yeonhui-dong District Senior Centers in Seo-gu.

Additionally, construction is scheduled to begin this year on Bupyeong-gu Southern Area Senior Cultural Center, Namdong Senior Welfare Center, Mansu Area Senior Health and Culture Center, and Yeongheung Family Care Culture Center in Ongjin-gun.

Incheon City plans to create 41,090 jobs through this year's elderly job support project, an increase of 8,371 jobs compared to last year. The budget for elderly job projects has been increased nearly threefold from 53.8 billion KRW last year to 145.8 billion KRW, marking the largest increase ever.

By sector, elderly jobs include 33,700 public interest activities such as senior care for seniors, support for vulnerable groups, and public facilities; 3,990 market-type projects such as school child guardians, silver cafes, and housekeeping care services; and 700 private company employment referral projects.

Incheon Mayor Park Nam-chun is taking a commemorative photo with an elderly person at the 'Senior Safety Phone Opening Ceremony.'
[Photo by Incheon City]

In response to the aging era, welfare projects to create a healthy and safe living environment for seniors will also be greatly expanded.

To protect solitary seniors in welfare blind spots, the city provided safety phones to 8,414 people last year. These safety phones, based on IoT technology, enable two-way video calls and detect temperature, humidity, and movement, allowing continuous monitoring of the health and safety of vulnerable solitary elderly with mobility difficulties.

Furthermore, the city is promoting the construction of the Incheon Municipal Nursing Home, scheduled to open in 2022. With a budget of 7.8 billion KRW from national and city funds, it will be built in Dorim-dong, Namdong-gu, as a three-story building with a total area of 2,714㎡. The municipal nursing home will accommodate up to 115 people and include four dementia-specialized rooms (48 people) and general wards.

The number of 'Dementia Safe Villages' equipped with dementia-friendly environments will also increase. Dementia Safe Villages are dementia-friendly communities where dementia patients and their families can safely carry out daily life and social activities with the help and attention of residents, representing neighborhoods with well-established community care systems.

Following the designation of Muui-dong in Jung-gu, Seonhak-dong in Yeonsu-gu, Munhak-dong and Juan 7 and 8-dong in Michuhol-gu, Sungui 4-dong, and Yeonhui-dong in Seo-gu as Dementia Safe Villages last year, the city plans to establish Dementia Safe Villages in all 10 districts this year.

As of last year, the population of seniors aged 65 and older in Incheon was 384,548, accounting for 13% of the total population of 2,957,026. Among special and metropolitan cities nationwide, Incheon is one of the younger cities, second only to Ulsan (11.5%).

However, with the baby boom generation (born 1955-1963), which accounts for 13.7% of the total population, entering the age of 65 this year, Incheon is expected to enter an aged society.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.