Seoul Gangseo-gu 'Senior Companion Sharing Volunteer Group' Launch

Launch of the Solitary Death Prevention Team Led by Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Gangseo District

Seoul Gangseo-gu Operates ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group’ Together with Licensed Real Estate Agents

Mayor Kim Tae-woo: “We Will Pay Even Closer Attention to Ensure No Neighbor Is Left Isolated”

On the 17th, Kim Tae-woo, Mayor of Seoul’s Gangseo District, launched the ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group,’ a public-private partnership aimed at more closely monitoring households in crisis within welfare blind spots.

At 3 p.m. that day, Mayor Kim presented certificates of appointment to licensed real estate agents who joined the ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group’ and expressed his gratitude for their meaningful collaboration.

After the appointment ceremony, he personally visited a real estate office participating in the project and affixed a sticker indicating that the office was engaged in companion activities for socially isolated groups.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo said, “A small interest in our neighbors will greatly help prevent solitary deaths, which have emerged as a social issue. I sincerely thank all the licensed real estate agents who readily joined the ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group’ project.”

The ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group’ is a project designed to care for socially vulnerable individuals in need of support, such as middle-aged and older single-person households and elderly people living alone, to prevent solitary deaths.

The district initiated this project to build a stronger social safety net for those at risk of solitary death by working with licensed real estate agents who are well acquainted with local conditions.

The volunteer group consists of 53 licensed real estate agents and 10 public officials. They operate in pairs, regularly visiting households in crisis to check on their well-being and directly address any inconveniences.

Additionally, they engage in phone consultations at least twice a week and participate together in hobbies such as Baduk (Go) and Janggi (Korean chess), acting as friendly companions to isolated neighbors.

Mayor Kim Tae-woo stated, “Tragically, there are many cases where people isolated from their neighbors suffer hardships and quietly pass away alone. Moving forward, we will pay even closer attention to ensure no neighbors are left in welfare blind spots and create a Gangseo District that walks alongside socially vulnerable individuals.”

Following the launch ceremony of the ‘Senior Companion Volunteer Group,’ education sessions were also held to prevent rental fraud and eradicate false advertising.

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