Health ministry vice minister visits welfare at-risk households ahead of Chuseok

First Vice Minister Hyun Su-yeop visited an administrative welfare center and an at-risk household in Anyang, Gyeonggi Province, on the 18th to inspect efforts to identify residents falling through the social safety net ahead of the Chuseok holiday.

Hyun stopped at the Gwanyang-dong Administrative Welfare Center to hear updates on local initiatives and field workers' difficulties. He sought input on implementing legal revisions to the Social Security Benefits Act and National Basic Living Security Act that would allow officials to file applications on behalf of citizens.

Accompanied by a health and welfare team, the vice minister then traveled to a nearby home to check on living conditions. The household belonged to a man in his 60s identified in June through a tip from an honorary social welfare officer. After being discharged from a nursing hospital, the man struggled with mobility and lived alone in housing vulnerable to extreme heat.

Although the resident initially showed resistance to outside help, repeated visits by the welfare team helped build trust. Officials arranged for home care services, an air conditioner, donated goods and assistance applying for permanent rental housing. During this visit, staff confirmed the recipient's well-being and reviewed whether existing aid was meeting daily needs.

South Korea operates three systems to uncover such vulnerable households: a system using artificial intelligence to analyze signs of crisis like utility cut-offs; public-private cooperation leveraging community councils and honorary officers; and a mobile app that allows individuals or neighbors to report emergencies.

"While identifying welfare blind spots continues year-round, the period before the holidays requires heightened attention so that households enduring hardship alone are not left behind," Hyun said. "Local governments and communities must join forces to quickly detect warning signs and strengthen the safety net so citizens receive timely support."

The vice minister urged anyone aware of neighbors needing assistance to report them through local administrative centers, the health and welfare counseling center, the Bokjiro website (www.bokjiro.go.kr) or the welfare crisis alert app.