The South Korean government is set to fully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) technology to address severe labor shortages in care services and eliminate welfare blind spots as the country enters an aging society. AI will monitor the health and safety of elderly individuals living alone through 'smart homes' and facilitate the application for tailored welfare benefits with a simple voice command through 'intelligent welfare administration.' The government aims to position AI not as a replacement for human workers but as an assistant to alleviate repetitive tasks, significantly improving the quality of face-to-face care.
On October 6, the Ministry of Health and Welfare reported on its 'AI Transformation Roadmap for Welfare and Care' during a Cabinet meeting. The ministry has set a vision of 'Reliable Care, Warm Welfare, and AI for All' and has dramatically increased the related government budget from 25.6 billion won this year to 69.1 billion won next year, nearly tripling the amount.
Projected Shortage of 990,000 Care Workers by 2043; 24/7 Care through Smart Homes and Facilities
The government's push for a major AI transformation is driven by rapid demographic changes. According to the Korea Development Institute (KDI) and the Bank of Korea, if current trends continue, there will be a shortage of approximately 990,000 caregivers and nursing assistants by 2043, leading to an inevitable national care gap.
To tackle this crisis, the ministry plans to establish a 'sustainable care system based on advanced technology.' It will create 'smart homes' that combine the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI to ensure that elderly individuals can live safely in their own homes around the clock.
Previously, identifying crises based on fragmented information, such as lack of movement, could take up to six hours. In the future, AI will analyze living patterns and conversations to detect anomalies within one hour.
Care facilities will also transform into 'smart facilities.' Instead of staff checking on residents every two hours at night for sleep and bathroom needs, smart diapers and fall detection sensors will enable immediate responses to unusual situations.
Seomin Su, a policy official at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, stated at a briefing, "We will deploy prototypes of smart homes and smart facilities in the field this November, and by 2027, we will conduct demonstrations in 400 households and 12 facilities, with a full-scale rollout starting in 2028, focusing on public institutions."
AI Chatbots for Simplified Welfare Applications; 50% Automation of Administrative Tasks
The government is also accelerating innovations in welfare administration that citizens can feel. To prevent individuals from giving up on welfare benefits due to complex application processes and lack of information, an 'AI chatbot' will be developed and introduced in 2027. Citizens will be able to describe their situations in everyday language, and generative AI will recommend tailored services. By 2029, the application process will be simplified to allow for 'one-click' submissions without the need for document submission.
Universal benefits with clear eligibility, such as child allowances, will gradually transition to an 'automatic payment' system that requires no separate application. Additionally, to reduce the excessive administrative burden on welfare officials and facility staff, more than 50% of repetitive tasks, such as document reception, verification, and system input, will be automated by 2028.
Hong Hwa-young, an official from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained, "We plan to conduct initial consultations focusing on households in crisis and later expand to nationwide recommendations and applications through the welfare platform."
A platform will be established to connect dispersed welfare and care data, and a 'welfare and care mydata' system based on individual consent will be introduced, which will eventually link with medical mydata.
“Not a Replacement, but an Assistant” – Development of Physical AI Robots and Training of 100,000 Professionals
The government is also creating a comprehensive ecosystem that encompasses technology development to market entry. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Science and ICT will jointly invest 74.5 billion won from 2027 to 2029 to promote R&D in AI and IoT care technologies. From 2028 to 2030, they plan to allocate approximately 100 billion won for R&D of 'physical AI' care robots that assist with patient transport and meal support. Long-term goals include commercializing home AI robots that combine companionship and safety detection functions after 2030.
Legal and institutional frameworks will also be established to prevent the misuse of technology. An 'AI ethics guideline' will be developed, including principles for human intervention and oversight based on risk levels, as well as the right to demand explanations. A welfare and care AI innovation committee will be formed to enhance field acceptance. Furthermore, by 2030, practical training in AI utilization will be provided to 100,000 field workers, including social welfare officials and care staff, to bridge the digital divide.
Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong of the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated, "In a situation where a shortage of care workers is anticipated, the new role of technologies like AI is becoming increasingly important. However, AI is not meant to replace humans but to assist with simple and repetitive tasks. We will use AI to enhance the sustainability of care and elevate the value of care work."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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