From the Second Act of Middle Age through Elderly Care in Later Years. Gyeonggi Province is With You This Year Too

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Kim Gap-dong] This year, Gyeonggi Province will continue to implement customized policies for middle-aged residents pondering how to build their lives after retirement, as well as for elderly citizens and their families facing difficulties with caregiving and long-term care issues—enabling them to seize new opportunities and live stably during life's transitions.

The province introduces major policies it has prepared close to the daily lives of baby boomers and elderly residents, including the Happiness Campus for designing the second act of middle age and a gap year program offering new experiences, Light Job positions that reduce burdens while increasing stability, employment and startup support encouraging fresh starts, Korea's first metropolitan-level caregiving cost support, AI check-in calls, accessible care and emergency welfare hotline for anyone in crisis situations.

■ 'Middle-Age Happiness Campus' Preparing for Life's Second Act

The 'Gyeonggi Province Middle-Age Happiness Campus' is a one-stop comprehensive service by Gyeonggi Province for middle-aged residents contemplating life planning after retirement or seeking networking. The name was changed from the former 'Baby Boomer Happiness Campus' starting this year. It supports diverse programs including life transition education, life redesign counseling, community activities, social contribution activities, and job linkage, as well as dedicated spaces for the middle-aged generation. Operations are divided into: △Middle-Age Happiness Campus (Provincial) 2 locations (Suwon, Goyang) △Middle-Age Happiness Campus (Cities/Counties) 5 locations (Hwaseong, Yangju, Gunpo, Anseong, Uijeongbu) △Middle-Age Happiness Centers (31 cities/counties). Last year, approximately 21,000 people used the Happiness Campus, and recruitment is scheduled to begin from March to April this year.

■ Gyeonggi Province Middle-Age Gap Year Program 'Middle-Age Internship Camp'

This is a middle-age gap year project first launched nationwide by Gyeonggi Province in 2025. It provides middle-aged residents between 40 and 65 years old facing a life transition period with opportunities to redesign work and life in their later years through diverse activities and experiences. Last year, following an opening ceremony and preliminary exploration education, participants carried out regional projects including various work experiences, hands-on learning, and community engagement in Paju, Gyeonggi Province; Inje, Gangwon Province; Namwon, North Jeolla Province; and Goryeong, North Gyeongsang Province, culminating in a four-month journey with a graduation ceremony. The province plans to expand participants from 120 last year to 150 this year, and add one new activity region during the first half of the year, bringing the total to five locations.

■ 'Light Job'—Flexible and Safe Employment Support for Baby Boomers

Following last year, Gyeonggi Province will continue promoting the 'Light Job' project this year to help baby boomers settle into flexible and safe employment. Light Job is a Gyeonggi Province middle-age employment brand signifying that "the work burden is light (Light) but the value of baby boomers and companies shines brightly again (Light)," designed to match the actual needs of baby boomers seeking part-time work. Starting this year, not only new hires but existing participants can receive stable support, with the maximum support period expanded to one year per worker. Businesses in Gyeonggi Province hiring baby boomers (ages 50 to under 65) for 15 to 36 hours per week can receive 400,000 won per worker per month in social safety net expenses. Last year, the project saw strong response from 617 companies with approximately 2,400 baby boomers participating. The province plans to recruit participating companies around February this year. Job applicants can obtain information about program participation through Job ABA Apply and other channels.

■ 'Gyeonggi Restart School' for Employment and Startup Success

'Gyeonggi Restart School,' established last year, is a program to boost the restart spirit and build competencies for young people and middle-aged residents facing employment and startup difficulties. It provides 4 nights and 5 days of joint workshops, psychological healing programs, celebrity lectures, expert consulting, and customized employment and startup education. Among 200 graduates last year, 33 (16.5%) as of October succeeded in starting businesses or finding employment, now active in diverse fields including restaurants, cafes, figure stores, and education. This year, the province plans to expand the target from 200 participants across 4 cohorts to 250 participants across 5 cohorts and expand education in northern regions. Additionally, for restart hopefuls reluctant about residential education, the province will newly launch the 'Restart Talk Concert.' The province plans to recruit participants for the 1st cohort of 2026 Gyeonggi Restart School in March.

■ 'Gyeonggi Province Caregiving SOS Project'—Korea's First Metropolitan-Level Caregiving Cost Support

The 'Gyeonggi Province Caregiving SOS Project,' launched last year, is the nation's first metropolitan-level elderly caregiving cost support system. It provides a maximum of 1.2 million won annually in caregiving expenses to vulnerable seniors aged 65 and older facing caregiving gaps due to economic circumstances. In 2025, the first year of implementation, a total of 1,346 cases received support. This year, it will be implemented in 16 cities and counties: Hwaseong, Namyangju, Pyeongtaek, Siheung, Gwangju, Gwangmyeong, Icheon, Anseong, Yangpyeong, Yeoju, Dongducheon, Gapyeong, Yeoncheon, Gwacheon, Uiwang, and Pocheon. Applications can be submitted by visiting the administrative welfare center in your residential area or through the online Gyeonggi Civil Affairs 24 (gg24.gg.go.kr).

■ Implementation of 'AI Elderly Companion Service' Utilizing Artificial Intelligence

The AI Elderly Companion Service is a service in which artificial intelligence calls seniors aged 65 and older residing in Gyeonggi Province at a set time once per week for check-in purposes. If a call is not answered three or more times or crisis signs are detected in the conversation, dedicated staff from the Gyeonggi Province Social Service Center directly call to confirm the senior's status and provide consultation connected to cities and counties for necessary welfare services. You can apply online by searching 'Care for Everyone Platform' on the portal or by visiting your residential area's administrative welfare center.

■ 'Care for Everyone' for All 14 Million Gyeonggi Residents Regardless of Age or Income

'Care for Everyone' is Korea's first universal care service model providing care services to residents in crisis situations regardless of age or income. Starting with 15 cities and counties in January 2024, it expanded to all 31 cities and counties this year. Services are provided across eight areas: daily living care, companionship, housing safety, meals, temporary shelter, rehabilitation care, psychological counseling, and home medical care. Last year, a total of 17,549 people received support. This year, in connection with 504 municipal and county agreement institutions, the province will provide up to 1.5 million won in annual costs through provincial budget. Service applications can be made online by searching 'Care for Everyone Platform' on the portal or through each city and county.

■ 'Emergency Welfare Hotline' When Urgent Welfare Support is Needed

The province operates Korea's first metropolitan-level emergency welfare specialized counseling call center. It is a consultation and reporting channel available 365 days a year for residents experiencing financial hardship or their neighbors. Services include emergency welfare intake, civil complaint consultation, rapid welfare resource linkage, case management, and follow-up management. From August 25, 2022, to December 31, 2025, the Emergency Welfare Crisis Counseling Call Center (Hotline) has received 27,602 counseling cases. The province operates four 365-day channels including the Emergency Welfare Hotline (010-4419-7722), Emergency Integrated Call Center (031-120), Emergency Welfare Call Center homepage (www.gg.go.kr), and Gyeonggi Bok-G Talk (KakaoTalk channel) to support resolution of welfare crises in daily life.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated at the 'Business Agreement on Activating Baby Boomer Light Job' last February, "It is no exaggeration to say that baby boomer employment determines the fate of Korea's economy. Gyeonggi Province will serve as that catalyst." At a meeting with participants in the 360-degree care and caregiving SOS project last year, he emphasized the importance of public care, saying, "Care and caregiving should not be left to an invisible hand. We must build a world where people do not fear tomorrow, even when ill or growing old."