As the ageing demographic in South Korea continues to expand, the residential safety of elderly individuals living alone has emerged as a significant social challenge. Many vulnerable seniors face daily inconveniences due to malfunctioning household fixtures but leave them unresolved due to financial burdens or limited accessibility. Statistics highlight that a substantial portion of the elderly population resides in older, deteriorating houses in traditional urban districts. According to official data from the National Assembly Research Service and Statistics Korea, older homes aged 30 years or more accounted for approximately 29% (164,329 units) of the total housing supply in Gwangju as of the end of last year, heavily concentrated in areas with a high density of elderly residents.

To address these practical living hazards, civic organisations have continuous initiatives to improve local living conditions. Among these is the "Gocheo-dream" (Home Repair) Project managed by the Shincheonji Volunteer Group Gwangju Branch.

Launched in August of last year, the "Gocheo-dream" initiative delivers localised, minor home repair services directly to senior citizens living alone, vulnerable households, and the families of national veterans. From its inception through May 2026, the branch mobilised a total of 185 volunteers to conduct 65 specific repair operations, distributing 130 pieces of essential support materials.

The technical interventions carried out over the nine-month period include:

These targeted home repairs are directly connected to preventing domestic physical injuries among senior citizens. Data from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) indicates that falls account for the highest percentage (72.5%) of injury-related hospitalisations among seniors aged 75 and older, with 51.6% of those incidents occurring directly inside the home.

Jin-ong Kim, the team leader overseeing the operations, explained that the programme was initiated after noticing elderly parents delaying minor household repairs. Kim noted that on-site interactions often involve confirming whether the service is entirely free of charge, followed by deep expressions of gratitude from the recipients once the repairs are finalised.

The "Gocheo-dream" initiative is sustained through the participation of both certified technical professionals and ordinary office workers. The participating volunteers learn essential technical skills such as electrical wiring and wallpapering, utilising their evenings after work or their weekends to conduct the repairs.

Jin-ong Kim emphasised that residential safety for the elderly extends beyond simple convenience, as it is fundamentally linked to health, protection, and systematic care. The Gwangju Branch plans to continuously execute these targeted maintenance operations, focusing on households that require immediate, practical assistance.