Push to fully amend the Lonely Death Prevention Act into a 'Social Isolation Prevention Act' (target: enforcement in 2027)
Source material is a Korean government announcement (in Korean).
The Ministry of Health and Welfare is pursuing a full amendment of the Lonely Death Prevention Act (고독사예방법) into a Social Isolation Prevention Act (사회적 고립 예방법) in order to widen the policy target from those at risk of lonely death to those at risk of social isolation, with 2027 as the target year for enforcement.
Key facts
| Legal amendment | Full amendment of the Lonely Death Prevention Act (고독사예방법) into a Social Isolation Prevention Act (사회적 고립 예방법) being pursued (target: enforcement in 2027) |
|---|---|
| Policy target | Being widened from those at risk of lonely death to those at risk of social isolation |
| Identification system | Lonely Death Crisis Response System — identifies at-risk groups by analysing 27 types of lonely-death crisis information such as unpaid bills and alcohol-related illness, and supports counselling, assessment and case management |
| First-half support outcome (as stated by the Ministry) | As stated by the Ministry: 80,000 people identified as candidates in the at-risk group for lonely death were surveyed and 40,000 received support |
| Reporting and alert channel | Welfare Crisis Alert app (복지위기 알림 앱) — an app for reporting welfare crisis situations such as financial hardship or isolation and loneliness, affecting oneself or a neighbour, from a mobile device |
| Programme for middle-aged adults | Research to develop a model for a daily-life recovery support project preventing social isolation among middle-aged adults (Korea Social Security Information Service, June–November 2026) |
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The Ministry of Health and Welfare issued an explanatory statement on the 25th in response to news coverage of isolation among middle-aged adults. A Segye Ilbo report dated 25 August pointed out that, unlike children, adolescents, young adults and older adults, middle-aged people have no separate legal basis or dedicated programme designating them as a policy target, and that support confined to the existing everyday care service (일상돌봄서비스) and to groups at risk of isolated death has its limits. In response, the Ministry said it would expand and strengthen its social isolation prevention policy. The Ministry explained that it is pursuing a plan to widen the policy target from those at risk of lonely death to those at risk of social isolation, and that, to underpin this in law, it is pursuing a full amendment of the Lonely Death Prevention Act (고독사예방법) into a Social Isolation Prevention Act (사회적 고립 예방법), with 2027 as the target year for enforcement. According to the Ministry's explanation, at-risk groups are currently identified through the Lonely Death Crisis Response System, which analyses 27 types of lonely-death crisis information such as unpaid bills and alcohol-related illness; as a first-half support outcome, the Ministry said 80,000 people identified as candidates in the at-risk group for lonely death were surveyed and 40,000 received support. The Ministry also explained that programmes such as wellbeing check-ins and self-help groups, which had been provided regardless of age, have been expanded and systematised from this year so that they are delivered to fit the characteristics of each life stage — young adults, middle-aged adults and older adults — and that the Korea Social Security Information Service is carrying out research to develop a model for a daily-life recovery support project for preventing social isolation among middle-aged adults from June to November 2026.
Summaries below are factual notes based on government announcements and primary sources — not evaluations or opinions.
FAQ
How will the law change?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare said it is pursuing a full amendment of the Lonely Death Prevention Act (고독사예방법) into a Social Isolation Prevention Act (사회적 고립 예방법), with 2027 as the target year for enforcement.
Where can a situation of isolation crisis be reported?
Through the 'Welfare Crisis Alert app' (복지위기 알림 앱), welfare crisis situations such as financial hardship or isolation and loneliness — experienced by yourself or by a neighbour — can be reported from a mobile device.
Is there support for middle-aged adults as well?
The Ministry said that programmes such as wellbeing check-ins and self-help groups, which had been provided regardless of age, have been expanded and systematised from this year so that they are delivered to fit the characteristics and needs of each life stage — young adults, middle-aged adults and older adults — and that the Korea Social Security Information Service is carrying out research to develop a model for a daily-life recovery support project for middle-aged adults from June to November 2026.