Goheung County Introduces Jeollanam-do's First 'ICT-Based Dementia Disappearance Prevention Project'

Goheung County, Goheung Police Station, and SK Telecom Sign Agreement
100 Severe Dementia Patients Selected at Dementia Relief Center

Goheung County in Jeollanam-do is introducing the province's first ICT-based access control system pilot project to prevent the disappearance of elderly patients with severe dementia and to create a safer community.

On August 6, the county signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) at the Palyeongsan Hall in the county office with the Goheung Police Station and the SK Telecom consortium (SK Broadband, SK Shieldus). The signing ceremony was attended by County Governor Gong Youngmin, Goheung Police Chief Gong Jeongwon, SK Telecom Western Marketing Division Head Ha Myungbok, and other officials.

Goheung County has introduced the first ICT-based access control system pilot project in Jeollanam-do to prevent the disappearance of elderly patients with severe dementia and create a safe community. They signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Goheung Police Station and the SK Telecom consortium (SK Broadband, SK Shieldus). Photo by Goheung County

Under the agreement, Goheung County will be responsible for administrative tasks such as selecting participants and supporting the installation of equipment. The Goheung Police Station will handle field response, dispatch, and the establishment of a safety network. The SK Telecom consortium will support the stable operation of the system by providing and installing access detection devices, operating the system, and managing security and data.

This project was launched to proactively address the increasing problem of missing elderly patients with severe dementia due to the aging population. The system allows real-time monitoring of entry and exit through detection devices installed on doors. If a dementia patient leaves the house, an immediate alert is sent to their guardian, helping to prevent disappearances and enabling a quick and systematic response in emergencies.

The county plans to initially select 100 patients with severe dementia registered at the Dementia Relief Center as pilot participants. After analyzing the effectiveness, the program will be gradually expanded.

Gong Youngmin, Governor of Goheung County, stated, "The disappearance of elderly patients with severe dementia causes great anxiety and burden not only for individuals and their families but also for the entire community. Through this agreement, we will establish a precise local safety network based on ICT technology and make Goheung County a safer place from dementia."

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