Bukgu Gwangju’s Integrated Care Project Gains Nationwide Attention as Benchmark for Local Governments

The integrated care project in Bukgu, Gwangju is drawing attention as a benchmark for local governments and institutions across the country. As the full implementation of the system is scheduled for next year, Bukgu’s proactive response is proving to be successful.

Gwangju Bukgu Government Office.

According to Bukgu on August 26, as of the end of August this year, 22 local governments and institutions nationwide, including Nowon in Seoul, have visited the Bukgu site or shared operational strategies and achievements. Last year, Bukgu received the grand prize in the integrated medical care support category of the regional welfare project evaluation hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.

The integrated care project is a system in which local governments provide various care services to enable residents to live in their own communities. The law was enacted in March last year, and it will be implemented nationwide starting in March 2026.

Bukgu established an integrated care team in 2021 and built a collaborative system. In 2023, it was selected for a Ministry of Health and Welfare contest project and is currently carrying out a three-year project worth 2.7 billion won. On the 6th of this month, Minister of Health and Welfare Chung Eun-kyung visited the site and recognized Bukgu as a leading local government.

This year, Bukgu is providing 37 services across five areas: health care, long-term care, daily living support, housing support, and community-specialized care. Key features include the use of medical care managers, a government-academia cooperation system, and expanded care for people with disabilities.

Moon In, Mayor of Bukgu, said, "We will do our best to eliminate gaps in care in Bukgu through cooperation with related organizations."

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