Suwon City Steps Up Efforts to Reduce 'Death in Solitude' Risk by Supporting Social Network Formation

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Jung Jun-sung] Suwon City has decided to actively pursue social network formation for socially isolated households at risk of death in solitude.

First, the city will operate the 'Saebbit Relationship Network Program' being jointly promoted by Suwon City and the Suwon City Social Enterprise Council.

The program will target around 30 people at risk of death in solitude and will include △dining programs △counseling △book club meetings △craft activities △healing programs (museum visits, walks).

The city anticipates that through this program, participants will share their experiences and form new social relationships. The program will be conducted from October through December at the Godeungdong Harmony Center.

Suwon City and the Suwon City Social Enterprise Council signed a 'business cooperation agreement on social network projects for preventing isolation among vulnerable groups through social solidarity' in September.

They have agreed to cooperate in helping socially isolated households escape isolation and providing diverse customized social services.

Meanwhile, Suwon City established a 'Death-in-Solitude Prevention Task Force' in August and has been actively working on preventing and managing deaths in solitude. The task force is organized and operated by 11 departments including the Care Policy Division and Welfare Policy Division, as well as health centers in all four districts.

In February, the Suwon City Research Institute conducted a 'factual survey on loneliness and social isolation among Suwon citizens' targeting 1,305 citizen panel members.

Based on the survey results, Suwon City plans to operate a '2024 Death-in-Solitude Prevention Pilot Project' this year.

From June to July, the city conducted on-site discovery surveys targeting around 4,300 middle-aged and vulnerable population groups at risk of death in solitude.

Based on this, the city is implementing △IoT-based welfare check service 'Saebbit Well-being Smart Check' △Suwon Saebbit Care meal support service △Saebbit Relationship Network Program △and a death-in-solitude personal effects disposal support project that honors the deceased and helps local residents recover their daily lives quickly.

Yi Haeng-soon, chairman of the Suwon City Social Enterprise Council, stated, "The responsibility and role of social enterprises in the community are becoming increasingly important," and added, "We will make every effort so that social enterprises can actively utilize their resources to help solve the important social problem of preventing death in solitude."

A Suwon City official said, "Death in solitude is not an individual problem but a task our society must solve together," and pledged, "We will continue to make efforts to prevent death in solitude through public-private cooperation."

The official further added, "We hope this program will strengthen social solidarity in the community for preventing death in solitude and help establish sustainable social networks."