MOHW Launches Solitary Death Risk Response System on February 27

- Integrating 27 risk indicators to identify 180,000 individuals annually and provide life cycle–tailored services -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister Jeong Eun Kyeong) and the Korea Social Security Information Service (SSIS, President Kim Hyun Jun) announced that the Solitary Death Risk Response System will officially launch on Friday, February 27. The system is designed to identify individuals at risk of solitary death at an early stage and provide systematic support to local government officials in executing key responsibilities, including counseling, risk assessment, and case management.

To identify high-risk individuals who are difficult to detect through the existing social safety net, the MOHW has selected 27 risk indicators closely associated with solitary death, including utility bill arrears, suicide risk, alcohol-related disorders, and sudden changes in electricity usage. These indicators are now integrated into the Solitary Death Risk Response System.

To ensure a smooth rollout, a pilot run* was conducted for about five weeks, from January 20 to February 26. During this period, technical system errors were addressed and feedback from local government officials was incorporated to minimize user inconvenience.

   * As part of the first identification round of 2026, 30,047 individuals were assigned to local governments on January 20. Intensive monitoring and management for these cases will be carried out through March 31.

In line with the timing of welfare blind-spot surveys, approximately 180,000 individuals identified as being at risk of solitary death will be assigned to local governments in four rounds each year. Overlapping cases will be given focused management by the officials in charge of welfare blind-spot investigations.

The implementation of this system is expected to reduce regional disparities in identification rates, which previously varied based on the administrative capacity and efforts of individual local governments. It will also enable a more consistent and timely response nationwide, thereby strengthening protections for at-risk individuals. Furthermore, the system is expected to alleviate the administrative burden on frontline officials and improve the overall efficiency of case identification and management.

For at-risk individuals identified through the system, the government will provide tailored support and referrals to appropriate services based on life cycle–specific needs and circumstances to maximize the effectiveness of risk interventions.

To this end, the MOHW revised the operational guidelines for programs designed to prevent and address loneliness and social isolation. The revisions incorporate the findings of a study on developing life cycle–tailored service models* and reflect expert consultations and feedback from local government officials to ensure effective implementation on the ground.

   * Study on the Development of Life Cycle–Based Service Models for Preventing Social Isolation (Solitary Death) (Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, September–December 2025)

For young people at risk of loneliness and social isolation, the MOHW will provide: (1) a Mental Recovery Service offering counseling and psychological support to promote mental health and emotional recovery; and (2) a Daily Life Recovery Service* aimed at restoring stable daily routines.

   * The Daily Life Recovery Service includes support for basic daily needs (e.g., housing, nutrition, and going out), economic self-reliance (e.g., job preparation and financial management education), and social reintegration (e.g., regular mentoring and remote, short-term, and experiential programs).

For middle-aged individuals at risk of loneliness and social isolation, the MOHW will provide: (1) relationship-building programs* to help rebuild disrupted social networks following events such as unemployment; (2) health management services to mitigate mental and physical health risks, including alcohol dependence; and (3) support for economic self-reliance.**

   * Programs include self-help groups, social dining programs, and cultural activities.

  ** Tailored support will be provided or linked as needed, including debt, financial, and legal counseling.

For older adults at risk, the MOHW will provide: (1) care linkage services to address difficulties in daily living resulting from functional decline and chronic conditions; and (2) social participation services* to strengthen emotional and economic support. For safety monitoring, (3) an ICT-based monitoring system will be utilized to enable rapid response in the event of a crisis.

   * Social participation opportunities include short-term public job programs for older adults, social activity support programs, and paid volunteer activities.

In addition, case management, linkage to local government resources, emergency welfare assistance, and social security benefits will be provided or arranged as needed.

Kim Moon-sik, Director General for Welfare Administration Support at the MOHW, said, “The Solitary Death Risk Response System will play an important role in reducing the risk of solitary death by improving early identification and ensuring people are connected to the support they need. We also plan to expand the system’s scope to include individuals at risk of social isolation, based on findings from social isolation surveys.”

SSIS President Kim Hyun Jun stated, “With the establishment of this system, we have built a data-analysis-based framework to proactively identify individuals at risk of solitary death. Going forward, we will develop an integrated identification and support system tailored to household-level emergencies and continue enhancing the system to enable more comprehensive and systematic identification and management of at-risk groups.”

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