As South Korea approaches a milestone of 970,000 dementia patients in 2025, with the number expected to surpass 1 million next year, local governments nationwide are implementing comprehensive ICT-based safety networks to address this growing healthcare challenge. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's "2025 Dementia Policy Project Guidelines," GPS tracking devices and Internet of Things (IoT) technology are being deployed across the country to prevent missing persons incidents among dementia patients.
For American readers, South Korea's approach to dementia care represents a significant technological advancement compared to traditional care models. While the United States primarily relies on facility-based care for dementia patients, South Korea is pioneering community-based ICT solutions that allow patients to remain at home while ensuring their safety through cutting-edge technology.
Regional Innovation in Dementia Safety Networks
Goheung County in South Jeolla Province has become the first in the region to launch an ICT-based access management system pilot project in cooperation with police and SK Telecom. This innovative system uses real-time monitoring to detect when dementia patients leave their homes and immediately sends alerts to guardians. The system utilizes LoRa (Long Range) network technology, a specialized IoT network, to track location devices called "Gper" that monitor patients' locations 24/7.
This represents a stark contrast to American dementia care, where tracking systems are often limited to expensive private services or basic medical alert systems. South Korea's integrated approach involves telecommunications companies, local governments, and police forces working together to create a comprehensive safety net that would be difficult to replicate in the more fragmented American healthcare system.
Cheongju City has designated Bukbu Market as its second "dementia-safe traditional market lighthouse keeper," following Gagyeong Bokdae Market last year. This public-private partnership model involves market merchants participating in the dementia safety network, with 13 participating stores designated as "dementia safety lights" that serve as temporary shelters and reporting points for wandering dementia patients.
Hwaseong City in Gyeonggi Province is providing free GPS tracking devices to 300 elderly dementia patients at home, with plans to supply devices to all registered dementia patients by the end of next year. The city is also considering introducing innovative "shoe-type wandering detection devices" to address the common problem of patients refusing to wear traditional neck or wrist-mounted devices.
Technology Dramatically Reduces Search Time
The effectiveness of GPS wandering detection devices for dementia patients has been proven through statistics. When wearing these devices, the average time to find missing dementia patients has been reduced from 660 minutes to 55 minutes – a 12-fold improvement. This dramatic reduction significantly alleviates the psychological burden on families and ensures patient safety.
For American families dealing with dementia, this represents a revolutionary improvement in response times. In the United States, where missing person cases involving dementia patients can take hours or even days to resolve, South Korea's 55-minute average represents a quantum leap in emergency response capabilities.
SK Telecom's location tracking service allows real-time location queries every 5 minutes and immediately sends alert messages when patients leave three pre-set safety zones. Patients can also request help through an SOS button in dangerous situations, creating a bidirectional safety system.
The innovative "Kkokkasin" shoe-type wandering detection device, the first of its kind developed in South Korea, has received positive evaluations for dramatically improving compliance rates. Since shoes are essential for going outside, the wearing rate can be significantly increased. Even dementia patients who refuse neck or wrist-type devices can wear them naturally, making them highly effective.
Government Support and Future Outlook
The Ministry of Health and Welfare has expanded the wandering detection device rental service through long-term care insurance in the "2025 Dementia Policy Project Guidelines." The service targets recipients of home-based long-term care services who show dementia symptoms or problematic behaviors such as wandering, with basic livelihood recipients able to use the service without co-payment.
South Korea's national healthcare system allows for this comprehensive coverage, contrasting sharply with the American system where such devices would typically require private insurance coverage or out-of-pocket payments ranging from $200-$500 monthly. The Korean model ensures equitable access to life-saving technology regardless of economic status.
All 256 dementia support centers nationwide operate various services including distribution of identification tags for elderly people at risk of wandering, fingerprint pre-registration, and free provision of dementia check apps. Private sector cooperation is also active, with SK Hynix's "Happy GPS Project" being evaluated as a representative success story.
An official from the Central Dementia Center emphasized, "With the era of 1 million dementia patients approaching, it is essential to build preemptive safety networks using ICT technology. The expansion of customized services reflecting the characteristics of each local government is important."
The number of people diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment, who are at high risk for dementia, is estimated to be 2.98 million in 2025 (prevalence rate of 28.12%), with the number expected to reach 4 million by 2033. This highlights the importance of building preventive safety networks.
Global Implications and Innovation
South Korea's comprehensive approach to dementia care through technology integration offers valuable lessons for other aging societies. The country's experience demonstrates how national healthcare systems can leverage telecommunications infrastructure and private sector partnerships to address demographic challenges.
For American policymakers and healthcare providers, South Korea's model illustrates the potential benefits of coordinated national approaches to dementia care. The integration of multiple stakeholders – government agencies, telecommunications companies, local businesses, and healthcare providers – creates a safety net that extends far beyond traditional medical care.
The competition among local governments to build creative and practical dementia safety networks is directly linked to public safety, requiring continued attention and support. As the global population ages, South Korea's innovative ICT-based approach to dementia care may serve as a blueprint for other nations facing similar demographic transitions.
Source: Original Korean Article - 치매 100만명 시대 대비, 전국 지자체 ICT 기반 안전망 구축 경쟁
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