Yangcheon-gu Offers Personalized Care Services for Adults & Families

Yangcheon-gu, a district in Seoul, is expanding its care services to encompass a broader range of residents, particularly young and middle-aged adults, and those providing family care. The initiative, spearheaded by Mayor Lee Gi-jae, aims to address gaps in existing support systems and provide more tailored assistance to individuals facing daily challenges.

Building on the existing ‘Dolbom SOS’ service, the district is launching ‘Yangcheon The-Dolbom,’ a project designed to offer continued support after the initial temporary home care provided by Dolbom SOS concludes. This addresses a critical period where residents often await long-term care grade assessments, leaving them vulnerable to disruptions in care. According to district officials, this new project will minimize those disruptions by providing additional temporary home care services while assessments are pending.

The ‘Yangcheon-type The-Dolbom’ project is structured around three key components: ‘Daily Addition,’ ‘Accompaniment Addition,’ and ‘Holiday Table Addition.’ ‘Daily Addition’ provides up to 80 additional hours of temporary home care, valued at up to 1.6 million KRW, for those who haven’t yet been linked to long-term public care programs like Long-term Care Insurance for the Elderly or Disability Activity Support Service. This is a significant step towards ensuring continuity of care during transitional periods.

‘Accompaniment Addition’ focuses on easing the financial burden of transportation when using an ambulance, offering an additional 200,000 KRW in support. This acknowledges the often-overlooked costs associated with medical transport, particularly for those with limited resources. The third component, ‘Holiday Table Addition,’ provides special holiday meals to approximately 300 people, supplementing existing meal delivery services. This aims to combat social isolation and provide a sense of community during festive times.

Mayor Lee Gi-jae has personally emphasized the importance of this initiative, demonstrating his commitment by visiting households benefiting from the Care SOS program and delivering lunchboxes. This hands-on approach underscores the district’s dedication to providing personalized and accessible care.

The expansion of care services in Yangcheon-gu isn’t limited to these new initiatives. The Sinwol Health Center Branch Office, located at 407 Nambusunhwan-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, operates Monday to Friday from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM, offering a range of health and wellness programs. These include nutrition education, dementia care, health promotion, and rehabilitation services. The center also houses a ‘Masildasil Cafe’ and ‘Green Memory Cafe,’ fostering community engagement and providing support for seniors.

Beyond the public sector, private services are also contributing to the care landscape in Yangcheon-gu. Yangcheon Visiting Massage, located at 17, Omok-ro 32-gil, has been providing in-home massage services throughout Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, and Gyeonggi-do for over a decade. The company emphasizes personalized care, offering a range of massage techniques tailored to individual needs, including Swedish massage, deep tissue therapy, sports massage, and prenatal massage. They offer flexible scheduling, including evenings and weekends, recognizing the demands of modern life.

In July 2024, Mayor Lee Gi-jae announced a Daily Care Service Project aimed at providing a respite for young and middle-aged adults, as well as young family caregivers. This project highlights the growing recognition of the challenges faced by those balancing work, family, and caregiving responsibilities.

More recently, in May 2025, Yangcheon District launched a customized care project specifically for middle-aged and older adults with developmental disabilities who have historically been underserved by existing welfare services. This initiative demonstrates a commitment to inclusivity and addressing the unique needs of marginalized populations.

These combined efforts – the expansion of public services like ‘Yangcheon The-Dolbom’ and the availability of private care options like Yangcheon Visiting Massage – paint a picture of a district actively working to create a more comprehensive and responsive care system. The focus on personalized support, accessibility, and addressing gaps in existing services positions Yangcheon-gu as a potential model for other communities seeking to improve the well-being of their residents.

The initiatives reflect a broader trend in South Korea towards strengthening social safety nets and providing more support for vulnerable populations. As the country’s population ages and the demands on caregivers increase, innovative solutions like those being implemented in Yangcheon-gu will become increasingly crucial.