Yangcheon-gu Launches Survey on Isolated Single-Person Households... Customized Support Planned

by Kim Minjin

Pubilshed 18 Jun.2025 10:04(KST)

Comprehensive Survey of 2,800 Households to Be Conducted Until October

Yangcheon-gu in Seoul is launching a "Survey on Social Isolation among Single-Person Households" in response to an increase in isolated households caused by social structural changes centered on single-person households and the weakening of social networks. This survey will be conducted until October, targeting a total of approximately 2,800 households, including single-person households showing signs of crisis.

A care worker visiting a single elderly household to check on their well-being. Provided by Yangcheon-gu.

There are about 59,000 single-person households in Yangcheon-gu, accounting for 32.9% of all households. According to a recent analysis of solitary death cases in Seoul (2018?2024), 87.8% of cases involved individuals aged 50 or older, and 90.4% were not recipients of emergency welfare support. This highlights the growing importance of identifying isolated households that fall through the cracks of existing welfare systems.

The survey targets approximately 2,000 households identified using 47 types of crisis indicators, such as rental or lease vulnerability among those aged 50 or older, households with power or water cutoffs, and those with overdue utility bills. It also includes 798 newly identified welfare recipients since July of last year, totaling around 2,800 households. Households may also be included in the survey based on self-request or neighbor reports.

The actual survey will be conducted by public officials from local community centers, who will visit households over a five-month period using an 18-item "Single-Person Household Survey Form." Based on the results, households will be classified into five categories according to the degree of isolation: relationship support group, daily support group, daily risk isolation group, intensive management group, and emergency risk group. Various support measures will then be linked, including customized benefits, emergency welfare, private resources, care services, well-being checks, and case management.

Meanwhile, the district is implementing various support projects in line with the rising proportion of single-person households, including solitary death prevention. The "Banollim Side Dish Support" program for single-person households at risk of malnutrition has expanded from 800 households last year to 1,500 this year. Welfare services are also being provided, such as the "Middle-Aged Single-Person Household Support Project," which offers leisure and cultural programs and supports personal networks through five regional comprehensive social welfare centers, and "Smart Plug" devices that detect dangerous situations by monitoring changes in electricity usage and lighting levels.

Lee Kijae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, stated, "I hope this survey will serve as an opportunity to actively identify those in need of help. We will continue to do our best to build a robust welfare safety net so that no residents are left behind."