AI 시대, 사람이 사람을 더 잘 돌보려면?

On the 22nd, a gathering in Seoul's Gangnam-gu's C-EXPO will address the question: "To what extent can machines replace human care?" This event consists of a panel discussion, a seminar, and the '2026 REHAHOMcare' exhibition. The seminar will focus on the topic 'Integrating AI Care Networking' and will showcase various AI applications currently in use at care facilities such as nursing homes and assisted living centers.

The Gangnam Integrated Social Welfare Center, a model for intelligent caregiving, currently operates a 'Smart Care Assistance Center' that utilizes digital tools to provide personalized services. The center recently implemented the 'Picture Story Project' targeting elderly residents with depression, using AI to help create life stories through conversations with the elderly.

Professor Park Yong-ran from Seoul University's Senior Business School notes that implementing a 'smart caregiving ecosystem' is necessary for the successful rollout of regional integrated caregiving. The professor emphasizes the need to integrate the technology-driven caregiving sector into the core infrastructure of aging societies to drive market innovation and facilitate the adoption of new technologies.

However, the essence of caregiving ultimately lies in human interaction. During the panel discussion at the North Concert, Dr. Hong Gae-jin, author of 'A Village Without People' and editor-in-chief of the dementia news portal, shared her experience of taking care of her deceased mother who suffered from a stroke 20 years ago. Dr. Hong contemplated how things might have been different if AI and robots had been available during that time.

While acknowledging that AI and physical robots can handle repetitive tasks and risk assessments, as well as assist with patients' movement, Dr. Hong emphasized that human presence is essential to achieve high-quality caregiving.