Gyeonggi Province Launches AI Smart Home Care Service for Elderly and Patients
Gyeonggi Province is launching an AI smart home care service that provides integrated care services to elderly people in need of support by utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
The project follows Gyeonggi Province's selection for the '2026 AI Application Product Rapid Commercialization Support Project (AX sprint)' led by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and promoted by the Korea Social Security Information Service. The province, representing metropolitan local governments (jointly with South Jeolla Province), formed a consortium with 12 companies including NHN and was selected in May.
With the project selection, Gyeonggi Province has secured a total of 275 million won in national funds and laid the groundwork for building a social safety net combined with digital technology. The province designated Seongnam City as an urban pilot area and plans to provide advanced smart home care services to 200 households of elderly, long-term care, and chronic disease patients by December 2027.
Beneficiaries will receive AI speakers, activity monitors, companion robots, smartwatches, and blood pressure monitors. A tablet-based AI will regularly check on beneficiaries and share emotional connections, while comprehensively analyzing voice, facial expressions, and daily life signals to detect risk signs early. Through functions such as medication reminders, outing detection, and sleep pattern analysis, the system will continuously monitor the daily living status of care recipients. This is expected to reduce care gaps while also alleviating the workload of on-site caregivers.
In connection with this, the province conducted practical training sessions for approximately 160 on-site care workers in Seongnam City from the 17th to 18th on smart home equipment installation guidance.
Park Mi-jeong, head of the Elderly Welfare Division of Gyeonggi Province, said, "This project is expected to contribute significantly to preventing solitary deaths among elderly people living alone and vulnerable populations and strengthening real-time monitoring systems by combining AI and digital technology beyond the existing fragmented care system. We will closely cooperate with Seongnam City, NHN consortium, and other related agencies to ensure the project is stably implemented, and work to advance Gyeonggi Province as a leader in AI-based elderly care services."