We Are Also a 'Special City'... Pohang City Creates a 'Welfare Hope Special City' Smiling Together with Seniors

Introduction of Standing Senior Centers, Kiosk Training, and Strengthening ICT-Based Safety Nets

Commitment to Creating a Smart Elderly-Friendly Welfare City, Enhancing Senior Welfare

Next year, Pohang City in Gyeongbuk Province will create a "Smart Elderly-Friendly Welfare City" to restore the daily lives of senior citizens and establish a new welfare environment.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Trainee Reporter Lee Seryeong] Pohang City, Gyeongbuk Province plans to strengthen non-face-to-face services next year to restore the daily lives of the elderly and create a new welfare environment, aiming to establish a practical and high-quality “Smart Elderly-Friendly Welfare City.”

This year, the city implemented major elderly welfare service projects such as basic pension, senior jobs, customized elderly care services, senior citizen cafeterias, meal delivery for homebound elderly, emergency safety for solitary elderly, and laundry room operation projects, supporting a total of about 90,000 people with a budget of 240.4 billion KRW.

Pohang City was selected as an excellent local government by receiving the Minister of Health and Welfare Award and the Governor of Gyeongbuk Province Award respectively in the basic pension and senior job projects, which have a high welfare perception among the elderly.

Next year, the city plans to invest a budget of 291.4 billion KRW, an increase of 28.8 billion KRW from last year’s 262.6 billion KRW, to provide a stable income base for local elderly and expand the welfare safety net.

The city will implement a standing senior center introduction project to improve the sitting-oriented senior center environment to standing, allowing elderly with joint discomfort to use the facilities more comfortably.

Out of 624 registered senior centers in the city, 80 senior centers selected through a demand survey will receive a total of 100 million KRW to install height-adjustable folding standing tables and chairs, and the city plans to gradually expand the facilities over the next three years.

The city will identify 200 welfare-vulnerable elderly households and install ICT-based smart sensors and emergency buttons in each home, with a 24-hour integrated control center monitoring to respond immediately in case of emergencies.

To help the elderly overcome digital exclusion, situational experiential education on kiosks (unmanned terminals) will be conducted, and kiosk experience zones will be installed to increase familiarity with the devices.

Next year, the senior job project will receive a budget of 28.9 billion KRW, an increase of 1.5 billion KRW, aiming to achieve both regional economic revitalization and stable income for the elderly.

The city will create jobs in various fields such as the senior financial support team, broadcasting monitoring team, and 119 support team, responding to job demand that utilizes the experience and know-how of younger seniors and aiming to strengthen the project’s substance.

With an investment of 7.9 billion KRW, the city will monitor 7,500 socially vulnerable elderly through a monitoring program, implement customized elderly care services and emergency safety assurance services, operate free laundry rooms for solitary elderly, alleviate social isolation, prevent entry into long-term care, and support a healthy daily life.

In connection with the Heunghae Special Regeneration Project, the city will also build the Heunghae Complex Community Center, filled with elderly leisure spaces and facilities for local residents such as a swimming pool, cultural center, sports center, and small library.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “We must have respect and courtesy for the elderly who have lived through a historic turbulent period with much dedication and effort for the city’s development and prosperity,” and added, “We will create a welfare hope special city where the lives of 100,000 elderly are comfortable and enjoyable.”

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