Tragic Solitary Deaths in Socially Isolated Households... Songpa-gu Takes Action

In the Era of Single-Person Households, Three 'Neighborhood Sarangbang' Spaces Created to Utilize Idle Spaces and Facilitate Communication for Isolated Households
Starting with the Opening of 'Macheon Neighborhood Sarangbang' on July 31, Pungnap and Bangi to Begin Operations in August
Providing Community Spaces and Resident Network Formation Programs... Minimizing Social Isolation and Solitary Deaths

The Neighborhood Community Room

Songpa-gu (District Mayor Seo Gang-seok) announced that it will utilize idle spaces within the district to create 'Neighborhood Sarangbang,' a communication space for single-person isolated households, and hold an opening ceremony on July 31 to identify and prevent at-risk households struggling with social isolation.

In response to the increasing risk of social isolation due to the rise in single-person households and aging population, the district has established a comprehensive plan to resolve social isolation in welfare blind spots within the community. It is implementing 40 projects across four areas, from identifying at-risk households to providing support. The district has persuaded crisis households, who had previously refused help despite facing the risk of lonely death, to break free from isolation.

# For example, Mr. A (54), a middle-aged single-person household living in Macheon-dong, was a crisis household who lived in seclusion at home due to depression and repeatedly refused contact and support from outside. Through continuous encouragement from resident activists and social workers, he participated in programs such as home interior design for single-person households, overcoming loneliness and isolation. He is now actively involved in external activities such as self-help groups.

# Mr. B (64), living in Macheon-dong, is a low-income single-person household who was previously taciturn and spoke very little due to past business failures and deteriorating health. However, by participating in the district’s lonely death prevention projects such as cooking and music classes, he built relationships with neighbors. He is currently the most active participant and shared his experience, saying, “What’s the point of staying at home? It’s good to come out and meet people.” Through the social network formation support project, his mindset has completely changed. This year, he is participating in the Seoul Welfare Foundation’s pilot project for training healing activists and plans to work as a healing activist based on his experience.

This year, the district plans to provide more proactive support, focusing especially on forming social networks that connect neighbors.

Accordingly, the district established three 'Neighborhood Sarangbang' locations through a pilot project for lonely death prevention in March. In cooperation with Pungnap and Macheon Comprehensive Social Welfare Centers, the district will offer self-help group programs such as health and hobby activities for residents living alone, using these spaces as places for neighbors to communicate and interact.

First, the ‘Macheon Neighborhood Sarangbang (314 Seongnaecheon-ro),’ which will hold its opening ceremony on the 31st, was remodeled from an existing 32㎡ commercial building in an area densely populated with vulnerable and lonely death risk households into a cozy caf? atmosphere. It will operate self-help groups for middle-aged isolated households.

The ‘Pungnap Neighborhood Sarangbang’ was created within the Pungnap Comprehensive Social Welfare Center (5 Gangdong-daero 3-gil) in a 36㎡ program room. Equipped with smart health devices, it supports the health of middle-aged and elderly isolated households. The ‘Bang-i Neighborhood Sarangbang’ is located on the third floor of the merchants’ association building in Bang-i Market (243 Garak-ro) with a 16㎡ communication space for nearby isolated households.

Seo Gang-seok, Mayor of Songpa-gu, said, “I hope the ‘Neighborhood Sarangbang,’ a communication space for socially isolated households, will become a happy place where residents living alone can relieve their loneliness and communicate and unite with their neighbors.” He added, “Going forward, the district will systematically manage and support potential at-risk isolated households by identifying them and linking necessary welfare services to thoroughly prevent social isolation and lonely deaths among single-person households.”

Macheon Neighborhood Community Center

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