Suwon, in Gyeonggi Province, announced on March 10 that it has drafted the 2026 Plan to Prevent Loneliness and Isolation to expand support for people at risk of solitary death and social isolation and will implement detailed measures.
The plan broadens support to cover not only those already at risk of solitary death but also individuals facing social isolation, the city said.
The city added that the initiative aligns with the national government's agenda, "Improving quality of life through life-course policies addressing social isolation."
Specifically, Suwon will mobilize 20 departments to pursue four strategic goals—establishing a regular check-in system; strengthening life-course measures to reduce loneliness and isolation; providing follow-up care; and offering other supports—and will advance 48 detailed tasks.
The Department of Care Policy will strengthen its check-in system by using an Internet of Things–based Smart Care Plug project to monitor changes in the living patterns of households at risk of loneliness and isolation.
Officials also plan to pilot a check-in program that uses water meter activity in multi-unit housing to identify at-risk households at an earlier stage.
The city will run cultural and arts programs for people at high risk of loneliness and isolation to help them rebuild social connections.
Suwon said it will also reinforce the local safety net—from identifying at-risk households to providing follow-up care—through public-private partnerships.
"We will proactively identify households at risk of loneliness and isolation through public-private partnerships and build a tightly coordinated support system," a city official said.
