Gwangjin-gu Applies Internet of Things Technology to Prevent Solitary Deaths Among Middle-Aged and Elderly Living Alone

Promotion of the 'Smart Plug Support Project for Middle-Aged and Older Single-Person Households'... Real-Time Alerts to Welfare Planners Based on Electricity Usage Analysis

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jong-il] Gwangjin-gu (Mayor Kim Seon-gap) is promoting a project to support ‘smart plugs’ that incorporate Internet of Things (IoT) technology to prevent solitary deaths among middle-aged single-person households.

This project was prepared to establish a more detailed welfare safety net by introducing smart technology into existing care services, in response to the increasing number of socially isolated middle-aged single-person households and the emerging social issue of ‘solitary deaths.’

The smart plug is installed between the device’s power supply and the electrical outlet, and it has the function of analyzing electricity usage and changes in illumination in real time.

Through this, if the electricity usage at the supported household differs from usual, an immediate alarm is sent to the welfare planner at the local community center, enabling a prompt check on the well-being of the individual.

The support targets 93 low-income middle-aged single-person households, prioritizing high-risk households with mobility difficulties or health concerns, with installation expected to be completed by the end of this month.

Mayor Kim Seon-gap said, “With the increase in single-person households and the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic, a new care system is needed,” adding, “We will discover and promote care projects utilizing smart technology to build a more detailed welfare safety net.”

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