CHANGWON — South Gyeongsang Province identified 6,922 people at risk of dying alone or becoming socially isolated through the third quarter of this year, up 925 from 5,997 in the same period a year earlier.
The province said on the 13th that it has broadened the target of its lonely-death prevention efforts to include people at risk of social isolation, and is strengthening its prevention system using big data and community-based human safety networks.
At the center of the expanded screening is a lonely-death crisis response system introduced in February. The system draws on 27 types of data, including alcohol-related illnesses and changes in electricity consumption, to detect warning signs. The province said the system and other outreach efforts lifted results through the third quarter above the year-earlier level.
Those identified as at risk receive tailored services based on their stage of life — young adults, middle-aged people or older adults — and their individual circumstances. A total of 192 detailed programs are run across cities and counties in 12 areas, including check-in visits, improving daily habits, building social networks and job support. The areas also cover check-in services, mental health and daily-life recovery for young adults, improved relationships, health management and financial independence for the middle-aged, care referrals, social participation and safety checks for older adults, and follow-up management.
Staffing consists of four case managers dedicated to lonely-death prevention and 77 existing integrated case managers. The structure is designed to concentrate support on people facing multiple, overlapping crises. A neighbor-connection corps for lonely-death prevention, with about 13,000 members, serves as a local safety network by making regular check-ins and delivering supplies.
A recently released survey on lonely deaths showed that such deaths nationwide rose 4.9% over the past six years, while South Gyeongsang recorded a 0.2% decline. Citing that trend, the province said it will continue to strengthen early screening and community-centered prevention activities.
One case illustrates the support. A resident in his or her 90s living alone in Haman County had children living in other regions, declining health and severed social ties, making daily life and safety checks difficult. The local administrative welfare center identified the resident as at risk of dying alone or becoming isolated, and the county conducted regular check-ins through its "Good Morning" program while also linking the resident to a meal delivery service for older adults at risk of skipping meals and to an integrated care program.
"The scope of lonely-death prevention policy is expanding to include preventing social isolation, so this is a problem the community must consider and solve together," said Jin Pil-nyeo, head of the province's integrated care division. "In response to that expansion, we will continue to strengthen prevention policies for loneliness and isolation, centered on a linkage system connecting the private sector, towns and villages, cities and counties, and the province."
South Gyeongsang Province has drawn up and is implementing a provincial lonely-death prevention action plan that incorporates loneliness and isolation programs from all of its cities and counties. From the 2025 action plan, the Ministry of Health and Welfare selected several initiatives as best practices, including a cooperation framework using the neighbor-connection corps, one-stop resource referrals in Haman County and a public-private network built in Tongyeong.