South Korean dementia support and prevention initiatives

South Korea is expanding its support systems for dementia through both administrative recognition of guardianship services and the implementation of community-based prevention initiatives.

In August 2026, the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Central Dementia Center recognized excellence in public guardianship. Awards were presented to individuals and institutions, such as Gil Myeong-sun and the Danyang-gun Dementia Care Center, for providing legal representation, daily life support, and continuous medical assistance to solitary elderly individuals.

By September 2026, local government agencies shifted focus toward community-level prevention and early detection. Initiatives included walking events and cognitive exercises in Bonghwa-gun, as well as the launch of mobile dementia prevention classrooms in Yeongjong-gu. These mobile programs utilize Information and Communication Technology (ICT), such as smart touch tables and cognitive rehabilitation training systems, to improve accessibility for elderly residents.

To mark the 19th Dementia Awareness Day in September 2026, various municipalities organized specialized programs. In Seongnam, health centers in Sujeong, Jungwon, and Bundang scheduled activities including neurology lectures, film screenings, theatrical performances, and cognitive workshops, alongside a walking event at Bundang Central Park. In Yangcheon-gu, programming included a brain health lecture by Professor Kim Geon-ha and a commemorative event at the ‘Green Memory Cafe,’ a facility designed to help early-onset dementia patients maintain social roles and employment through award ceremonies and healing therapy sessions.