LH Signs Agreement with 9 Local Governments to Promote Senior Welfare Housing

LH, Business Planning, Housing Construction and Operation... Local Governments Provide Sites and Install and Operate Welfare Facilities
Expanding 24-Hour Smart Care Pilot Project to Senior Welfare Housing

Kim Hyun-jun, President of LH (seventh from the left in the photo), and local government officials are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the "Business Agreement for the Joint Promotion of Welfare Housing for the Elderly" on the 25th at the Hilton Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul. / Photo by LH.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kangwook Cho] Korea Land and Housing Corporation (LH) announced on the 25th that it signed a "Business Agreement for the Joint Promotion of Senior Welfare Housing" with nine local governments nationwide at the Hilton Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul.

"Senior Welfare Housing" is public rental housing designed to meet the age-specific needs of low-income seniors aged 65 and over, providing features such as removal of level differences within units and installation of safety handrails, along with specialized welfare services including health management and cultural activities for convenient living.

Following the government's housing welfare roadmap, LH has been collaborating with the government and local governments since 2016 to supply senior welfare housing nationwide. So far, senior welfare housing has been supplied in areas such as Seongnam Wirye, Siheung Eungye, Jindo Ssangjeong, and Hwacheon Sineup, where various senior-friendly welfare programs including health management, daily living support, and home care services are operated.

This agreement was promoted to define the roles and cost-sharing among institutions for project promotion with local governments selected as senior welfare housing sites through the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's public contest in May. The agreement involved LH and nine local governments: Gyeongju City, Namhae County, Dong-gu of Daejeon City, Geumcheon-gu of Seoul, Siheung City, Uijeongbu City, Inje County, Jeju Province, and Cheonan City.

According to the agreement, LH will be responsible for planning, housing design and construction, and operation and management of the housing after completion for the senior welfare housing project. Additionally, each local government agreed to provide project sites and cooperate in installing and managing welfare facilities within the complexes.

With this agreement, additional senior welfare housing will be constructed in nine local governments nationwide. In particular, housing designs considering senior characteristics and various welfare services will be provided together, enabling local seniors to enjoy more convenient living conditions with affordable rental terms.

Furthermore, LH plans to supply 10,000 households by 2025 by continuously expanding the project and collaborating with various stakeholders in health, medical, and welfare sectors to establish senior welfare housing as a new housing type in our rapidly aging society. LH will actively strive to support housing and services desired by local seniors through close communication with the relevant local governments and others to provide services tailored to each region's characteristics.

Earlier, on the 15th, LH, along with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Gwangju Seo-gu Office, launched a "Senior Customized Smart Care Pilot Project" at the Gwangju Ssangchon permanent rental housing. LH plans to expand this pilot project nationwide to senior welfare housing starting in 2022.

This project utilizes technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to provide smart care services for seniors and people with disabilities, including 24-hour emergency monitoring, emergency bell response, and location tracking during outings. The operation and management of the service are handled by Gwangju Seo-gu Office.

At the agreement ceremony, LH President Kim Hyun-jun said, "Senior welfare housing, where residents can live in customized housing at low cost while receiving various welfare services, is an effective model that simultaneously addresses housing and health issues. I hope that the successful promotion of projects in these nine locations will effectively respond to aging problems within the regions and serve as an opportunity to expand the project nationwide."

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