Frequent solitary fatalities in which senior citizens die from lack of help is a rising social problem in Japan which has a large percentage of elderly citizens. Seniors in farming villages where houses are far apart came up with an alert system to confirm each other's safety by hanging red flags every morning. Local governments are introducing cutting-edge systems that monitor the security of seniors by checking how much water or gas they consume.

But many experts suggest that relying on high-tech systems only drives elderly citizens into solitude -- which can be more painful than death. Solitude is so fatal that the suicide rate of aged persons living alone is twice or three times as high as that of elderly citizens who live with their families. As a result, the slogan of the Tokiwa-daira housing complex's "zero solitary death campaign" is "Greetings are the first step toward happiness." The slogan suggests that neighborly living guarantees lifelong happiness, as well as happiness in advanced age. The residents have also set up a "happiness plaza" to provide themselves with opportunities to become closer neighbors over tea.

Korea, which is said to be aging even faster than Japan, has also been developing senior assistance efforts. The government has introduced old age nursing insurance and the national pension medical insurance system is being reformed. Citizens can subscribe to individual pensions and are encouraged to boost their wealth as if money is enough to guarantee happiness in old age. But money's not enough for the elderly. Plenty of elderly Japanese die alone even though they have money.

That's prompted Japan to employ neighbors to look after its seniors. Healthy seniors provide volunteer services to less healthy neighbors with allowances paid by the government. It's a one-stone, two-birds policy that gives jobs to the elderly and saves the welfare budget. Market merchants check the safety of senior citizens while delivering lunch boxes and side dishes. These policies are possible because even large cities have many citizens who live in the same neighborhood for life, giving rise to lively, neighborly communities.

Korea has little opportunity to build such neighborly communities as new town development programs are unveiled almost daily, apartments are re-developed and re-constructed to scatter neighbors overnight and moving house is considered the best way to increase one's wealth. Campaigns to boost the price of one's own apartment are underway in many places, but few moves are made to make neighbors. The experiences of developed countries show that money-based aging assistance plans are limited by government finances and are ineffective at providing humane care. If aging assistance efforts are not accompanied by policies that encourage neighbors and citizens to participate, the future of Korea, whose aging is proceeding rapidly, is grim indeed.

This column was contributed by Cha Hak-bong from the Chosun Ilbo's Business Desk.