Market scope note: This article covers information from both Korea and the United States. Each piece of information is labeled in the text with 🇰🇷 Korea or 🇺🇸 U.S. to indicate which country it applies to.
For children worrying about their parents from afar, the most frightening moment is when a call goes unanswered. Day or night, the thought of "what if" never quite leaves the mind. To ease that anxiety, both Korea and the United States offer institutionally supported ICT-based emergency safety systems. Today we take a close look at how a single button or a single sensor can genuinely serve as a lifesaving safety net.
🇰🇷 Korea The '독거노인·장애인 응급안전안심서비스' (Emergency Safety Assurance Service for Seniors Living Alone and People with Disabilities), operated by the 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) and the 한국사회보장정보원 (Korea Social Security Information Service), is a policy that installs ICT-based safety equipment in the homes of seniors living alone. A total of five types of devices are installed in the home — an emergency phone, an emergency call button, a motion sensor, a fire detector, and a door sensor — providing protection 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. When an abnormal sign is detected, the situation is immediately transmitted to the 119 fire station, and if contact cannot be made, an emergency management officer visits in person to confirm the person's safety.
🇰🇷 Korea Starting in 2026, this service has undergone a major change. Previously, income eligibility criteria meant there were gaps in coverage, but this year those criteria have been abolished so that any senior living alone can apply regardless of income level. Equipment and monitoring services worth approximately 50,000 won per month are provided entirely free of charge. Applications can be made by visiting the 읍·면·동 행정복지센터 (local community service center) in your area of residence, or by phone at 129 or 1661-2129, and can be submitted at any time of year. Please also keep in mind that the application must be filed in the name of the senior who will be receiving the service.
🇰🇷 Korea There are real cases of this service making a difference. In June 2026, a fire detector installed in the home of a senior living alone in Imsil-gun, North Jeolla Province, detected smoke before anyone noticed, preventing serious harm. The device picked up the warning sign before a person could. The program exists for exactly these moments.
🇺🇸 U.S. In the United States, similar devices are called PERS (Personal Emergency Response System) or "medical alert systems." They come in a variety of forms — pendants worn around the neck, wrist bands, and smartwatch-style devices — and pressing the button connects the user to a 24-hour monitoring center. Higher-end models also include automatic fall detection, so a call for help can be made even when the senior is unable to press the button themselves. GPS-enabled mobile devices can track location outside the home as well, making them well suited for seniors who are active and move around frequently.
🇺🇸 U.S. Monthly fees for PERS devices are generally in the range of 25 to 50 dollars, with fall detection adding approximately 10 dollars per month. Cost assistance options do exist. Original Medicare (Parts A and B) does not cover PERS because it is not classified as durable medical equipment (DME), but some Medicare Advantage (Part C) plans do include PERS as a supplemental benefit. Medicaid recipients may be able to receive assistance with monthly fees ranging from 25 to 75 dollars through their state's HCBS (Home and Community-Based Services) waiver, and initial installation costs of 40 to 200 dollars may also be partially reimbursed. However, waiver availability and eligibility criteria vary by state, so contacting your local Medicaid office or Area Agency on Aging first is the most reliable approach.
When the two countries' systems are placed side by side, Korea operates a structure in which the government directly installs and runs the equipment free of charge, while the United States operates a structure in which a private device is chosen first and costs are reimbursed afterward through insurance or a waiver. Because the application process differs, whichever system you use, it is important to know in advance who to contact first — many people get stuck in complicated procedures before they even have a device in hand.
Sources: 보건복지부 (Ministry of Health and Welfare) press release, "Anyone Living Alone Can Now Apply for the Emergency Safety Assurance Service"; 보건복지부 2026 독거노인·장애인 응급안전안심서비스 사업안내 (as cited by 비거노스닷컴); 정부24 (Government24) service information page for 독거노인·장애인 응급안전안심서비스 (last updated 2026.02.26); 뉴스1 report on the Imsil-gun fire case, 2026.6.30; The Business Research Company, 'Personal Emergency Response Systems Market Report 2026'; Paying for Senior Care, 'Personal Emergency Response Services & Medicaid'; RetirementLiving.com, 'Does Medicaid Cover Medical Alert Systems? (2026)'; MedicareAgentsHub, 'Does Medicare Cover Medical Alert Systems? 2026'.
Note: This article was compiled by AI from the sources cited above. We strive for accuracy, but for decisions about your specific situation, please confirm the latest guidance from a professional or the relevant agency.