Welfare referrals no longer require a phone call or an in-person visit. Incheon Metropolitan City is rolling out its "Welfare Crisis Alert App," enabling any citizen to report households in crisis via smartphone.
The city said Wednesday that the app is available for free on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Users can file reports for themselves or neighbors in need of livelihood support, caregiving and protection, health and medical services, or housing assistance. Once a report is received, a caseworker at the relevant eup, myeon, or dong community welfare center visits the site and connects the household with tailored services such as emergency welfare assistance and basic livelihood security benefits.
Incheon has also built a civilian safety net. Approximately 15,000 people — including some 11,000 honorary social welfare officers and about 4,000 members of local social security councils — are participating in efforts to identify households in crisis. The city is encouraging these participants to use the app while also urging the general public to install it.
"The key to uncovering welfare blind spots lies in citizens' interest and participation," said Shin Byeong-cheol, director general of Incheon's Health and Welfare Bureau. "Once voluntary reporting through the app gains momentum, the civilian safety net will strengthen even in areas beyond the reach of government resources."