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Mayor Park Heong-joon Announces Opening of a “Generational Integrated Care Era” Through Senior Employment… Launch of 10,000 Naepyeon Caregivers

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Busan Metropolitan City, led by Mayor Park Heong-joon, announced that it will hold the Ribbon Project Vision Declaration and the launch ceremony for 10,000 Naepyeon Caregivers today (the 16th) at 2 p.m. in the City Hall Grand Auditorium.

About 700 people will attend the launch ceremony, including Mayor Park Heong-joon, Kim Jeong-hyeon, President of the Busan Senior Club Association, Kim Yang-jin, Head of the Busan–Ulsan Regional Headquarters of the Korea Senior Human Resources Development Institute, directors of senior clubs, and Naepyeon Caregivers, marking together the opening of Busan’s era of generational integrated care.

Busan Metropolitan City will officially proclaim the vision of the Ribbon Project, which aims to diversify existing environmental maintenance–centered public interest jobs for seniors into sustainable care-centered employment. The name “Ribbon Project” combines the meanings of “Re-Born,” symbolizing a new leap in later life, and “Ribbon,” symbolizing connection among neighbors and generations. Through this project, the city intends to redefine senior employment as a core urban policy that goes beyond simple income support to restore care, relationships, and dignity.

To this end, the city has selected about 10,000 Naepyeon Caregivers this year. The term “Naepyeon Caregiver” refers to a caregiver who conveniently supports a person’s daily life close to their home.

Previously, senior employment care programs mainly involved checking on older adults and offering companionship. Through the Naepyeon Caregiver initiative, the city will expand the range of care recipients and services to include seniors, children, persons with disabilities, households at risk of lonely deaths, and other vulnerable groups. The plan is to implement a Busan-style integrated care service that comprehensively supports physical health, mental health, social relationships, and daily life for citizens who need care.

Starting this year, Busan Metropolitan City will continue to expand a senior employment model based on generational integrated care services, proactively responding to regional demand and policy changes.

At today’s launch ceremony, the city will announce the opening of the generational integrated care era together with the Naepyeon Caregivers. The event will proceed in the following order: screening of a promotional video for the Ribbon Project produced directly by senior participants, opening remarks, congratulatory speeches, proclamation of the Ribbon Project, reading of the pledge, a launch performance for the Naepyeon Caregivers, and job training.

In the promotional video segment, senior members of the Senior Media Production Team from Gijang Senior Club will screen a Ribbon Project promotional video that they produced themselves.

During the Ribbon Project proclamation, the mayor and major guests will conduct a touch ceremony to officially declare the project vision.

For the pledge reading, participating institutions will pledge to cooperate in realizing Busan as a generational integrated care city where no citizen is left behind, and representatives of the Naepyeon Caregivers will declare their commitment to faithfully serve as a bridge of integrated care connecting all generations.

During the launch performance, all participants will hold placards symbolizing the launch of the 10,000 Naepyeon Caregivers and jointly declare the initiative in unison with the host’s call, widely announcing the paradigm shift in Busan’s senior employment and the opening of the care era.

Before beginning their on-site activities, participating seniors serving as Naepyeon Caregivers will complete job training to strengthen professionalism and responsibility.

Beginning in March, Naepyeon Caregivers will provide integrated care services for all generations, from children to seniors. Seniors will no longer remain only as recipients of care but will participate as active members of their communities.

Through this initiative, a virtuous cycle is expected to take root throughout the region—providing meaningful work for seniors and reliable care and daily support for citizens.

Care gaps in everyday life will decrease, generational disconnection will be alleviated, and a warm welfare community where people care for one another within the local community is expected to grow stronger.

Mayor Park Heong-joon stated, “The 10,000 Naepyeon Caregivers, the core of the Ribbon Project, will symbolize that seniors are not merely recipients of care but active leaders of generational integration policies encompassing children, seniors, and vulnerable groups. Building on the capabilities and wisdom of our seniors, we will make Busan a warmer city and a city people would want to live in again even if reborn.”