Suncheon City Establishes Community-Based Care System Where Neighbors Care for Neighbors

Published 17 Jan.2024 11:37(KST)

Creating a Dense Welfare System Through Emotional and Relational Care

Suncheon City, Jeollanam-do (Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu) announced that it will establish a community-based city without blind spots in care by promoting a life-centered care policy that connects neighbors.

As of the end of December last year, the total population of Suncheon City was 280,948, of which single-person households numbered 49,438, and the elderly population was 50,517, with single elderly households accounting for 31.6%, or 15,977 people.

[Image courtesy of Suncheon-si]

The number of care workers in Suncheon City increased by 13.4% compared to before COVID-19 in 2019, reaching 6,115, and the care budget accounts for 126.6 billion KRW out of the total welfare budget of 439.3 billion KRW, representing 28.8% of the welfare budget.

▶ AI Check-in Calls and Initial Consultations, Normalizing Care through ICT

As generative AI (artificial intelligence) demonstrates effectiveness across citizens' lives, Suncheon City plans to promote AI normalization targeting vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and the disabled.

First, AI-CCTV (robots) will be deployed in childcare settings such as daycare centers to serve as assistant teachers, collecting and analyzing data on children's behaviors such as sitting, standing, jumping, punching, and kicking to enhance child safety.

By introducing the ‘Suncheon Salpim App’ and conducting ‘Emotional Care AI Check-in Calls,’ the city will monitor reclusive individuals, the disabled, and vulnerable groups. Additionally, 250 more AI companion robots ‘Lumi,’ already distributed to seniors aged 65 and over, will be provided to alleviate loneliness among elderly living alone and support health, daily life, and safety, thereby promoting life-centered care.

▶ Strengthening Childcare through Birth and Customized Parenting Support

In an era where children are even more precious due to ultra-low birth rates, parental benefits have been expanded to 1 million KRW for 0-year-olds and 500,000 KRW for 1-year-olds, and the first meeting use voucher for families with second or later children has been raised to 3 million KRW. Multi-child families will also receive support for purchasing childcare products.

The zero-year-old safe class in daycare centers will be expanded to include one-year-old classes and classes for children with disabilities to ensure close childcare. Weekend 365 open daycare centers and hospital care services for sick children will be thoroughly implemented to provide customized parenting services for households requiring emergency care.

As a city certified at the advanced level of UNICEF’s ‘Child-Friendly City,’ Suncheon will meticulously implement 230 child-friendly projects to guarantee children's rights.

Furthermore, two additional Dahamkke Care Centers will be established to strengthen a detailed elementary school care safety net, and the number of affiliated stores accepting child meal cards will be expanded by discovering ‘Good Restaurants,’ thereby broadening children's meal options.

▶ Creating First-Class Welfare Suncheon through Welfare Learning Centers, Welfare Expos, and Neighbor Care

To realize a care community where neighbors care for neighbors, a quarterly ‘Welfare Learning Center’ will be operated for citizens, public officials, and social welfare workers from both the public and private sectors to strengthen welfare capabilities.

The welfare expo, scheduled to coincide with the opening of the National Garden in April, will be held like a festival for about 5,000 citizens including social welfare workers, featuring booths related to life, aging, illness, and death, welfare institution facility experiences, open stages, and flea markets.

The provisional ‘Neighbor Care Group,’ where neighbors care for neighbors, will absorb life-centered agents such as community leaders, women's association heads, welfare task forces, religious institutions, post offices, delivery workers, and rental apartment managers beyond public management to solidify the care system.

Mayor Noh Gwan-gyu of Suncheon said, “Everyone needs care, and the future will be an era of relational care beyond considerate care,” adding, “By promoting life-centered relational care tailored to each target and generation, we will intricately connect 280,000 citizens to create a safe and secure Suncheon.”