Gyeongju City Announces 2025 Citizen Welfare Achievements and Next Year's Strategies Including 'AI Care Call'

Expansion of AI Welfare Safety Net, Care Services, and Customized Support for Each Generation

On November 17, Gyeongju City announced the "2025 Core Promotion Strategy of the Citizen Welfare Bureau" in the main conference room at City Hall, presenting both the major achievements of the Citizen Welfare Bureau over the past year and the direction of next year's welfare policies.

The Citizen Welfare Bureau, established on July 1 last year through an organizational restructuring, has played a pivotal role in the city’s welfare administration. It oversees key welfare areas directly related to citizens’ lives, including welfare policy, measures to address low birth rates, senior welfare, welfare for people with disabilities and women, and welfare for children and youth.

Nam Mi-kyung, Director of the Citizen Welfare Bureau of Gyeongju City, is explaining the core promotion strategy of the Citizen Welfare Bureau at a press briefing on the 17th. Provided by Gyeongju City

In 2025, Gyeongju City has begun full-scale implementation of an artificial intelligence (AI)-based smart welfare safety service to prevent solitary deaths and social isolation.

By utilizing the "AI Care Call" service based on Naver Clover, the city has continuously monitored 320 individuals at risk of solitary death and established a system to respond immediately in crisis situations, thereby further strengthening the local welfare safety net.

In addition, the city has continuously promoted customized programs for at-risk and low-income households, such as expanding emergency welfare support for up to three months for living expenses, medical care, and housing; identifying new beneficiaries by relaxing the eligibility standards for basic living benefits; and supporting self-reliance through the operation of self-support business units.

In response to the low birth rate, the city has pursued policies for each stage of marriage, childbirth, and childrearing, aiming to become a "city where it is good to get married and raise children."

Through various programs-including youth clubs, support for small weddings, financial support for wedding gifts for couples in their 20s, assistance with agricultural and marine products and moving expenses for families with multiple children, and a radio campaign to foster citizen empathy on the low birth rate issue-the city has worked to create a family-friendly atmosphere.

Furthermore, by operating 29 units of youth rental and shared housing, providing monthly rent support, interview preparation expenses, and moving expenses, promoting the "Youth New Golden Startup Zone," and operating the youth center "Youth Godo," the city has strengthened housing stability and the foundation for employment and entrepreneurship among young people.

In the field of senior welfare, the city provided jobs for 4,420 elderly individuals, expanding social participation among seniors and establishing a stable activity base through cooperation with local agencies.

Projects to improve living infrastructure, such as constructing the Welfare Center in Oedong-eup, upgrading senior community centers, and reinforcing safety facilities, have also been carried out to enhance accessibility to welfare services for the elderly.

For people with disabilities, the city strengthened tailored job support by offering full-time, part-time, and welfare jobs, as well as dispatching massage therapists for registered persons with disabilities. Based on the women-friendly city initiative, the city also worked to expand the foundation for gender equality by promoting women's employment, safety monitoring, and improvements in care environments.

In the area of child and youth welfare, the city operated 10 "Together Care Centers" to address after-school care gaps and create a safe care environment within elementary students’ daily lives.

This year, the city also held the first "Gyeongju University Admission Fair," providing academic and career counseling to about 3,500 participants, and expanded practical career support programs focused on the Career Education Experience Center, including guidance on academic advancement, employment, and interviews.

Hwarang Village and the Donghak Education Training Center have enhanced their functions for education, experience, and accommodation for youth, families, and groups, expanding their roles as education and tourism hubs. In addition, the Haneulmaru Management Office established an emergency reservation website when the national cremation reservation system was paralyzed due to a national database fire, stably processing 339 reservations and demonstrating a rapid response system.

Building on this year's achievements, Gyeongju City plans to further strengthen customized welfare policies for each generation in 2026, including upgrading the AI safety net, expanding integrated care services, constructing and renovating senior community centers, enhancing mobility and activity support for people with disabilities, expanding support for young residents, and providing assistance for large homes for families with multiple children.

Nam Mi-kyung, Director of the Citizen Welfare Bureau, stated, "Gyeongju City has pursued various welfare policies with the goal of 'Warm Welfare, Happy Gyeongju.' Next year, we will do our utmost to make Gyeongju a safe and happy city for all citizens by further enhancing welfare services that people can truly feel, such as expanding the AI safety net and care services."

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