South Korean municipalities expand community-based welfare and care services

Local governments in South Korea are expanding community-based care and welfare services to support vulnerable populations and reduce the burden on families.

In Icheon, the Icheon Volunteer Center organized a Chuseok holiday initiative where 19 volunteer groups prepared and delivered traditional holiday food to approximately 890 people in need, including the elderly living alone. Beyond food delivery, volunteers conducted wellness checks to monitor the health and living conditions of recipients.

Pocheon is strengthening its integrated medical and nursing care system, allowing citizens to receive essential services like housework assistance, mobility support, health management, and even hair and beauty services within their own homes. The city has connected 2,286 services to 376 individuals this year, expanding support to include evenings and weekends to fill care gaps.

In Seo-gu, Gwangju, a new ‘1,000 Won Care’ service has been launched using 200 million won from the Hometown Love Donation Fund. This program provides housework and physical assistance to severe long-term care recipients and certain disabled individuals for a nominal fee of 1,000 won per session. The service is specifically designed to cover nights and holidays when traditional daytime care is unavailable.