Gapyeong-gun Expands 'AI Well-being Assurance Service' Amid Positive Response

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Eom In-yong] Gapyeong-gun will expand operations this year of the 'AI Well-being Assurance Service,' which detects early warning signs of crisis in single-person households at high risk of solitary death and prevents accidents.

The initiative monitors high-risk solitary death households on a continuous basis using artificial intelligence (AI) technology, with the aim of closely filling welfare blind spots.

As the 'AI Well-being Assurance Service' enters its third year and effectiveness has been confirmed in the field, Gapyeong-gun plans to expand the project this year to cover a total of 120 households.

The service involves participation from Korea Electric Power Corporation, SK Telecom, and Happy Connect. If no change in electricity usage of mobile communication devices is detected in a single-person household over a certain period, the situation is judged to be abnormal and a step-by-step verification procedure is initiated.

First, well-being is confirmed via an AI phone service call.

If there is no response afterward or well-being cannot be confirmed, the control center calls directly to reconfirm.

If abnormalities are detected at this stage, Happy Connect immediately visits the household to directly confirm well-being and notifies relevant township and county office personnel without delay through an operational system.

Director Lee Jeong-a of the Welfare Policy Division stated, "The well-being confirmation service utilizing AI technology plays a significant role in reducing welfare blind spots and protecting the safety of vulnerable groups," adding, "We will continue to establish a close care system by integrating digital technology."