1. Social Background

Looking at the social status of many developed countries, many are facing serious social problems due to the low birth-rates and aging populations.

In Asia, South Korea has recently seen a sharp increase in the proportion of elderly people in the population, which was 15.8% in 2020, 16.6% in 2021, 17.5% in 2022, and as of 2023 is up to 18.4%. This trend is on track to further increase in 2024.

Japan has also already become a very elderly society, and the so-called “2025 problem,” i.e., baby boomers born immediately after World War II have become super-seniors over 75 years old, and various issues such as property management, nursing, and other care have become urgent social problems. Elsewhere in Asia, Taiwan and many other countries are facing similar challenges. Simply put, the declining birth rate combined with the entry into the Super-Seniors Society has led to a significant shortage of personnel responsible for the care of the elderly. As a result, the traditional guardianship system and traditional care methods are reaching their limits, making it difficult to meet the needs of the elderly in this traditional way.

While computer technology has recently advanced in terms of both hardware and software, a machine learning technology called Deep Learning has been developed, and artificial intelligence is rapidly evolving. With the introduction of excellent algorithms based on huge and abundant data, AI is currently expected to play an active role in various fields, and its social implementation is becoming a key to solving various challenges facing modern society. Considering the above social trends, it is necessary to approach the associated challenges from a completely new perspective so that the elderly can live an active life in retirement while securing their property and identity.

2. Progress of Research Based on 3S.

In this collaborative research project, a new guiding ideology for supporting the elderly that is suitable for a digital society will be created, taking into account the current state of legal framework, in addition to innovation in medical and care technologies. The research will be developed based on the following 3S ideology;

Safety × Self = Sustainability

(Safety of body and property) × (Independence and self-respect) = Continuation of an active life for the elderly.

3. Specialty and Objective

This collaborative research project aims to ensure accuracy by following studies, including social demonstration experiments, to confirm the validity of the research results. In addition, through close cooperation between industry, academia and government, we plan verify to step by step the effectiveness of the research and review its benefits and social contributions.

Specifically, this joint research project aims to develop a legal and policy model that supports property security, care, and a vibrant life for the elderly in accordance with the basic ideology of the above 3S set forth in the joint declaration. Furthermore, it aims to explore a structure that combines property security, care, and support for the elderly, and to explore solutions to challenges and related legal support measures through the use of advanced digital technologies such as AI and trust systems.

This collaborative research project also aims to contribute to solving the global challenges in supporting the elderly by introducing the research results, a new way of supporting the elderly that originates in East Asia and is suitable for the digital age, to other countries facing the problem of super-seniors.

4. Research Team Structure

(1) Korea
– Ajou University SSK Research Group : SSK(Social Science Korea) of National Research Foundation of Korea
“Exploring and Evaluating Legal System for Social Integration & Legal Empowerment of Minority Groups in Korea Society-Focused on Senior Citizens“
Research Director : Prof. Yoon, Tae-Young, Ajou University
– Research Center for AI Robot, Dong-Eui University(Prof. Moon, In-Hyuk)

(2) Japan
– Institute for Legal Response in Digital Society, Shizuoka University : INFIC communications
Research Director : Masatoshi Masuda(INFIC Group CEO), Prof. Zhu Ye (Shizuoka University)

(3) Taiwan
– Research Center for Digital Law, National Taiwan University
Research Director : Prof. Huang Shih-Chun, Prof. Chen Sat-Fu