Jeonnam Province, the Only in the Nation to Use AI Companion Dogs for Senior Emotional Health One-Stop Support

【Financial News Muan=Hwang Taejong Reporter】Jeonnam Province is the only local government in the nation to launch a one-stop support for senior emotional health using artificial intelligence (AI) companion dogs.
 According to Jeonnam Province on the 13th, the 'AI Companion Dog Emotional Health One-Stop Support Construction Project' was the only one selected in the 'Smart Social Service Pilot Project' organized by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
 This 'Smart Social Service Pilot Project' was promoted to discover new social services using new technologies such as AI and to spread them to local communities.
 The core of Jeonnam Province's 'AI Companion Dog Emotional Health One-Stop Support Construction Project' is to distribute AI care robots in the form of dogs to 100 households of isolated elderly people who have difficulty in outdoor activities, helping to stabilize emotions and alleviate social isolation.
 The AI care robot provides emotional interaction as a daily conversation partner by talking to seniors and asking about their feelings, and it also acts as a smart care partner by checking meal times or medication times. In particular, it is linked to 119 in case of emergencies, enabling crisis response within the golden time.
 Additionally, caregivers can check the health and emotional state of seniors in real-time through a dedicated app, further enhancing the continuity and safety of care.
 This project is led by Jeonnam Province in a consortium form, with Jeonnam Social Service Institute as the implementing agency. The care robot manufacturer, Hyodol Co., Ltd., and the Mokpo Regional Housing Management Corporation, which plays the role of selecting and managing the target, are participating as cooperative partners to establish a field-centered integrated care system.
 The project is scheduled to begin full-scale distribution in August for 100 isolated elderly people residing in the Sangdong Residential Happiness Support Center in Mokpo.
 Kim Jihee, CEO of Hyodol Co., Ltd., said, "I am pleased that the pet-shaped care robot support project, which was prepared for the first time in the nation, has been selected," adding, "I will continue to work to expand care services based on technology in Jeonnam Province."
 Jeong Gwangseon, Director of Health and Welfare of Jeonnam Province, said, "This selection of the project is an important opportunity for Jeonnam to leap forward as a leading digital welfare region," adding, "We will continue to actively integrate new technologies into welfare to expand practical services that all residents can feel."
 Meanwhile, Jeonnam Province achieved the highest number of selections in the nation with 9 cities and counties selected in the '2025 Town and Township Smart Welfare and Safety Service Improvement Model Development Support Project' organized by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety in the first half of this year. They plan to continue taking steps to lead the nation in the technology-based welfare sector.

hwangtae@fnnews.com Hwang Taejong Reporter