Reduce Solitary Deaths by 20%... 400 Billion Won Budget Invested Over 5 Years

Ministry of Health and Welfare's 1st Basic Plan for Preventing Solitary Deaths
Mental Health Care and Employment Support for Young Generation
Integrated Medical, Health, and Care Support for Elderly by Local Governments
Reduce Solitary Deaths to 0.85 per 100 Deaths

As personalized lifestyles and aging populations lead to an increase in solitary deaths, the government has prepared a basic prevention plan for the first time and decided to spend 390.7 billion won over five years. An annual survey on the status of solitary deaths will be conducted to identify high-risk groups, and health management, employment, medical, and care services will be provided according to age. Through these measures, the government plans to reduce the number of solitary deaths by 20% by 2027.

On the 18th, the Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the "1st Basic Plan for Solitary Death Prevention." The core of the plan is for the government, local governments, and civil society to identify high-risk groups for solitary deaths. The survey cycle for high-risk groups, previously conducted every five years, will be shortened to one year. An integrated solitary death database will be established within the Social Security Information System, and "Social Isolation Prevention and Support Centers" will be designated and operated at both central and local government levels. Local residents such as representatives of women's associations and neighborhood shops like real estate agencies will be trained as "solitary death prevention gatekeepers."

Support for high-risk groups will vary by age. Support for youth will focus on mental health management and employment assistance. This is because, in the 2021 survey, young people at risk of solitary death cited "emotional anxiety" and "economic problems" as their greatest difficulties. Accordingly, the interval for mental health checkups, previously every 10 years, will be shortened to two years, and if there are any illnesses, one-on-one professional psychological counseling and support for daily life recovery will be provided. For young people who have given up job seeking, a youth job leap incentive of up to 12 million won over two years will be provided.

On the other hand, for the elderly generation facing significant difficulties in health, the plan includes integrated support from the community for medical care, health management, and caregiving. The existing elderly customized care service, which only checked the safety and well-being of the elderly, will be expanded to assist with household chores, mobility, and meals. The pilot project for the "Long-term Care Home Medical Center," where medical staff visit elderly people with mobility difficulties, and the "Visiting Medical Support Team" will also be expanded.

The 50s and 60s age group, which accounts for the largest share of solitary deaths at 58.6%, mostly saw reinforcement of existing policies. Considering their strong demand for job counseling, reemployment programs and lifelong education will be strengthened. Care and hospital accompaniment services that can reduce the burden of daily life will also be newly established within this year.

Rapidly Increasing Solitary Deaths... Mostly Vulnerable Groups

This plan also includes measures for a dignified death. Among the elderly, nearly 100% recognize the need to prepare for death themselves before dying. The Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to introduce a "Pre-funeral Intent Form (tentative name)" from next year, allowing individuals to decide in advance the scale and method of their funeral. A pilot project to enable people to prepare their own funerals and ensure death in their place of residence is also under consideration. The Ministry explained, "The dignity of all citizens must be guaranteed until death," and "the state needs to establish an institutional foundation for this."

The government aims to reduce the number of solitary deaths by about 20% through these measures. Solitary deaths account for about 1% of all deaths annually. The goal is to reduce the solitary death rate from 1.06 per 100 people in 2021 to 0.85 by 2027.

The government's move to establish national-level measures comes as solitary deaths have rapidly increased, especially among vulnerable groups. The number of solitary deaths in Korea rose from 2,412 in 2017 to 3,378 in 2021, a 40.0% (966 people) increase over five years. Among them, 44.3% were recipients of basic livelihood security, and 86.3% had received social security support at least once. Suicide accounts for 56.6% and 40.2% of solitary deaths among people in their 20s and 30s, respectively, indicating a high rate. This means that the risk of solitary death is higher the more economically difficult the situation.

President Yoon Suk-yeol also stated at the end of last year during the "1st National Task Review Meeting," "I think the fundamental solution is to create mixed-generation communal housing not only for the elderly but also for youth and other generations." He urged the Ministry of Health and Welfare, "As the main ministry, please promote planning to develop such elderly-friendly communal housing." The Ministry plans to announce a separate measure in the second half of the year after discussions with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

Lee Ki-il, 1st Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, emphasized, "Solitary death is a very unfortunate case of facing the end of life isolated from family or those around them," and added, "The government will make every effort through this plan to ensure that there are no lonely deaths in our society."

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