‘Entering a Super-Aged Society’ Chungnam Strengthens Elderly Safety and Public Security

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam is stepping up efforts to enhance safety and public security for the elderly in line with its entry into a super-aged society.

According to Chungnam Province on the 27th, as of the end of last month, out of the total regional population of 2,121,082, the population aged 65 and over was 431,843 (20.4%). This means that 2 out of every 10 people in the population are aged 65 or older.

Considering that a population aged 65 and over exceeding 20% classifies a society as super-aged, Chungnam has entered a super-aged society this year.

As the elderly population increases, crimes and accidents targeting them are also on the rise. For example, crimes against the elderly in the region increased from 6.3% of the total in 2015 to 7.7% last year.

In particular, one out of five victims of telephone financial fraud is aged 60 or older, and half of the traffic accident fatalities are elderly aged 65 or above.

Reports of elder abuse are also increasing. The number of elder abuse reports rose from 159 cases in 2017 to 326 cases last year, more than doubling.

Reflecting this situation, the Provincial Autonomous Police Committee decided at its 28th regular meeting yesterday to establish and actively implement a ‘Comprehensive Localized Elderly Safety and Public Security Plan.’

The comprehensive plan focuses on an integrated approach to public security administration related to the elderly, responding to the simultaneous increase in the elderly population and crimes and accidents targeting them in the region.

The ten major initiatives include: ▲Promoting prevention activities against telephone financial fraud ▲Strengthening crime prevention safety facilities and local patrols ▲Activating Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) and crime prevention diagnostics ▲Collaboration with related agencies to protect and support abused elderly ▲Guidance and enforcement for elderly drivers and activation of license return programs ▲Expanding designated elderly protection zones and improving traffic safety facilities ▲Implementing visiting elderly traffic safety education ▲Establishing systems to prevent missing dementia patients and early detection of missing elderly ▲Strengthening operation of community policing ‘Abused Elderly Guardian Centers’ ▲Enhancing organic linkage between public security administration and local government administration.

Specifically, the Provincial Autonomous Police Committee plans to continuously educate on fraud techniques and face-to-face extortion cases to prevent telephone financial fraud targeting the elderly, which has become a recent social issue, and send voice phishing caution text messages using disaster alert systems.

Additionally, cooperation will be requested from financial institution counter staff to report to 112 when unusual elderly behaviors such as large withdrawals or transfers are detected, and to prevent theft, the installation of smart security lights combining security lights and black boxes will be expanded along with strengthened patrol activities.

The committee will also request local governments to expand designated elderly protection zones and comprehensively maintain traffic and road safety facilities within these zones to focus on preventing traffic accidents.

Regarding dementia patients, the committee explained that they plan to increase fingerprint registration rates and expand the distribution of wandering detectors to prevent missing incidents.

Chairman Kwon Hee-tae of the Provincial Autonomous Police Committee said, “With rapid aging and an increase in elderly living alone, crimes and accidents targeting the elderly are becoming more diverse,” adding, “The committee will work closely with related agencies to devise concrete implementation plans to ensure the comprehensive plan is effectively carried out.”

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