The city of Seoul has decided to invest a total of 3.4 trillion won by 2030 to respond to the ultra-aged society. Through this, it plans to create 330,000 jobs for seniors, including 300,000 public jobs and 30,000 private jobs. It is also targeting the supply of 13,000 dwellings, which play a key role in the elderly's retirement life.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced the comprehensive plan to respond to the ultra-aged society, titled '9988 Seoul Project,' during a press conference at Seoul City Hall on the 26th.
Seoul is expected to enter the ultra-aged society around July. As of April, seniors aged 65 and older accounted for 19.8% (1.84 million) of the total population in Seoul. The city noted that if the current trend continues, by 2040, one in three people in Seoul will be over 65. The United Nations (UN) considers a society to be ultra-aged if the proportion of those over 65 exceeds 20%, and South Korea entered an ultra-aged society at the end of last December.
The comprehensive plan announced by Mayor Oh consists of four areas: ▲ strengthening community-centered care and health systems ▲ ensuring economically stable retirement life ▲ enhancing social participation and leisure activities of seniors ▲ creating a senior-friendly urban environment. Through this, the government aims to address issues ranging from health to economic and leisure activities as well as housing for seniors.
First, to strengthen the community care and health system, Seoul will provide a Seoul-type integrated care service, expanding consultation counters for care and public and private silver daycare centers.
The Seoul-type integrated care service will support five major areas, including health care, health, nursing, caregiving, and dwellings, tailored to the needs of seniors. This will start with operational pilots in seven locations this year, with plans to expand to all autonomous districts in Seoul next year. The number of care consultation counters is set to increase from 451 next year to 1,000 by 2030, aiming to allow seniors to request care within a five-minute walk.
The city will also expand silver care centers, such as nursing facilities for the elderly, and day care centers for day and night protection. Plans are in place to secure such facilities as a public contribution when establishing multi-family housing through redevelopment and reconstruction, with aims to create 85 such centers by 2040. Additionally, the city plans to secure 140 centers by utilizing childcare facilities that are at risk of closure due to low birth rates. The goal is to operate a total of 50 facilities, two in each autonomous district, for seniors who find it difficult to live alone.
Measures to support economic activities for seniors were also announced. The Seoul city government plans to create 300,000 public jobs by 2040, which accounts for 10% of the total elderly population. Additionally, 30,000 private jobs are planned to be created. It will support up to 60 million won for private corporations that hire seniors and will also implement internship programs.
Policies to enhance social participation and leisure activities will also be pursued. The number of park golf courses, which currently stands at 33, is planned to be increased to 150 by 2040. Indoor park golf courses will also be expanded to offer enjoyable play regardless of the weather. The lifelong education program titled '7th Grade Classroom' is also set to be expanded. Plans are underway to create a total of five multi-purpose leisure and cultural spaces at key locations by utilizing closed schools and city-owned land with low usage rates by 2040. These spaces will host senior and youth mentoring shared office spaces, programs for social activities and methods for healthy aging, and leisure activity programs.
In addition, the city of Seoul will promote improvements to the housing environment for seniors. A total of 7,000 customized senior dwellings will be supplied by 2040. This includes 3,000 senior-friendly dwellings with cleaning and health management support, 3,000 linked to urban regeneration projects, and 1,000 utilizing private land. Plans are also in place to provide 1,000 public-private partnership senior dwellings and 5,000 residential-style senior dwellings.
Mayor Oh Se-hoon said, 'The comfort of seniors' retirement is our future,' and noted, 'With the ultra-aged society at our doorstep, we will strive to ensure that seniors can receive systematic care from the community and live their retirement healthily and with dignity.'