Gwangyang Steelworks Enhances Elderly Quality of Life with 'Smart Health Management Program'

POSCO 1% Nanum Foundation Donates 40 Million KRW, Jeonnam Social Welfare Community Chest Receives Over 54 Million KRW in Designated Contributions

Gwangyang Steelworks ‘Maeumieum’ and ‘Dolbogo Salpigo’ Talent Volunteer Teams Participate

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik] POSCO Gwangyang Steelworks (Director Lee Jin-su) announced on the 6th that it held a launch ceremony for the ‘Smart Health Management Program’ targeting local senior citizens at the auditorium of Jungma Senior Welfare Center, supporting their healthy daily lives.

The launch ceremony was attended by Kim Tae-gyun, member of Jeonnam Provincial Council; Moon Yang-o, vice chairman of Gwangyang City Council; Kim Jae-kyung, chairman of Gwangyang City Love Sharing Welfare Foundation; Kim Tae-young, head of the Administrative Public Relations Group at Gwangyang Steelworks; council members Kim Sung-hee, Seo Young-bae, Baek Sung-ho of Gwangyang City Council; Jung Byung-kwan, director of Jungma Senior Welfare Center; and Lee Mi-jin, secretary general of Gwangyang YWCA.

Gwangyang Steelworks initiated the ‘Smart Health Management Program’ to take the lead in addressing social issues such as the management of chronic geriatric diseases and elderly care, which are rapidly emerging alongside population aging.

The ‘Smart Health Management Program’ consists of two parts: the ‘Smart Care Health Plus Project’ for systematic health management of seniors and the ‘Care Robot Seoro-eum Project’ to help emotional stability.

The ‘Smart Care Health Plus Project’ provides personalized smart health management services to 140 elderly individuals living alone with chronic diseases such as hypertension and diabetes. This project is operated with 40 million KRW in support from the POSCO 1% Sharing Foundation.

The ‘Care Robot Seoro-eum Project’ supports 60 seniors experiencing emotional isolation due to difficulties in social activities caused by COVID-19, using the AI care robot ‘Hyodol’ to aid mental health and daily life recovery. POSCO operates this project by designating over 54 million KRW through the Jeonnam Community Chest of Korea.

‘Hyodol’ is a smart robot equipped with various functions, including managing daily activities such as meals and medication, dementia prevention and leisure activity content, communication with distant family members, and emergency alerts through movement detection. Gwangyang Steelworks previously provided this robot to 40 seniors in 2019.

Notably, the project gains additional significance with the participation of the ‘Mind Connection Volunteer Group’ and the ‘Care and Watch Volunteer Group.’ Employees and families of Gwangyang Steelworks are matched one-on-one with seniors to provide companionship, enabling more detailed emotional support.

At the launch ceremony, Kim Tae-young, head of the Administrative Public Relations Group at Gwangyang Steelworks, said, “This project is meaningful as it is the first personalized health management system for seniors using smart technology in Gwangyang City.” He added, “Gwangyang Steelworks will continue to support the healthy lives of local seniors and carry out various social contribution activities and talent sharing by employees for this purpose.”

Gwangyang = Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Heo Seon-sik hss79@asiae.co.kr

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