Osan City establishes welfare safety net using data and human networks

Osan City has established a welfare safety net that integrates administrative data with human networks to identify households in crisis. This collaborative approach recently earned the city and several individuals awards from Gyeonggi Province for excellence in discovering and supporting welfare blind spots during the winter season.

The system, known as the ‘Osan-style welfare safety net,’ operates through three main pillars: ‘Osan Radar,’ a citizen-led network that detects signs of hardship; ‘Knock (ON) Mutual Cooperation,’ which utilizes local businesses like real estate offices and pharmacies to find residents in need; and ‘Ttokttak!! Approach,’ which connects discovered cases to public and private support services.

Local business owners have played a significant role. For instance, Oh Hyung-ho, director of Daewoon ES, reported 16 households facing economic or housing difficulties while performing gas safety inspections. The city plans to expand this system from a seasonal response to a permanent, year-round operation, providing monthly consultations across 13 sectors including health, legal, and employment services.