Siheung City Uses AI, IoT to Protect Residents from Lonely Deaths

Siheung City is fully launching its 'smart care' service, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to assist households at risk of isolation and loneliness. The initiative aims to identify critical situations early and respond promptly to prevent deaths occurring in isolation.

Siheung City has been advancing its pilot program for lonely death prevention since 2024, analyzing the living data of target households through an AI care service since July 2023. Currently, an average of 95 households are monitored monthly, with a system in place that includes AI welfare calls, control center verification, and on-site visits when necessary, in case of any abnormal signs.

Starting from the end of April, the city will provide additional support, including door opening sensors for entrances and refrigerators, and smart plugs to analyze appliance power consumption. This will allow for a more precise assessment of the subjects' daily activities. The city anticipates building a welfare safety net without blind spots through this data-driven care system linking AI and IoT technologies, and expects to alleviate welfare gaps for at-risk households and reduce the burden on family caregivers.