At 1 p.m. on the 27th, Yukgeori General Market in Sangdang District, Cheongju. Walking along the bustling market street, a single-story prefabricated building on the edge of the market stands out with a sign reading "Chungbuk Pureun Saem" and a banner that says "Working Bappeo."
When I slid open the white sliding door and stepped inside, the smell of garlic pricked my nose. Inside, grandmothers sat in a circle, snapping off garlic stems and trimming bruised parts. Their hands were busy, but their mouths kept going with talk of drama and family.
◇a laughter-filled working Bappeo... using the body and earning money
The "Working Bappeo" project promoted by North Chungcheong Province is drawing attention as a new senior work and welfare model. It "provides simple odd jobs (trimming produce, assembling manufactured goods, etc.) to people 60 and older or vulnerable groups, and pays them Onnuri gift certificates or local currency in return, helping restore self-esteem and revitalize the local economy."
Working hours are 2–3 hours a day. Work 2 hours and receive 10,000 won, or 3 hours for 15,000 won, paid in local currency or Onnuri gift certificates.
After the Chungbuk Pureun Saem manager handed over rubber gloves and a knife, I sat at the workbench. Snapping garlic stems, I naturally struck up a conversation with grandmother Lee Geum-rye, seated across from me. Lee, who said she lives in Sajik-dong, Cheongju, said, "It took me about 20 minutes to walk here from home," and added, "Unless something special comes up, I come every day, trim garlic for about three hours, and use the Onnuri gift certificates to buy side dishes for dinner."
Grandmother Kim Deok-sun, sitting next to her, added, "It's too boring at home, but when I come out, I can work and make friends, and you wouldn't believe how good that feels." Grandmother Park Yeon-je, seated opposite, said, "If someone who comes every day suddenly doesn't show up, we call to see if something happened," adding, "If someone is hospitalized, we visit, and we look out for one another."
For about 40 minutes while we peeled garlic, the conversation never stopped. Topics ranged from husbands and family, to the morning news, to food. The grandmothers we met that day said in unison, "It's not just about eating free meals," and added, "Working and earning money, and meeting people gives us energy. We hope policies like this spread nationwide."
◇Seoul and Sejong also benchmark, 3,065 participants in a day
North Chungcheong Province became the first in the nation to enter a super-aged society in Feb. last year. According to Statistics Korea, this year the share of elderly residents (65 and older) in North Chungcheong is 21.9%. That exceeds the national average of 20.3%. There are about 110,000 people living alone in the province. Three out of 10 seniors live by themselves. The rise in seniors living alone is leading to solitary deaths and livelihood issues.
Governor Kim Young-hwan of North Chungcheong turned his attention to the concept of the free-meal "Bappeo" movement as a solution to local poverty. He conceived Working Bappeo by combining work with Bappeo.
An official with North Chungcheong Province said, "Working Bappeo provides simple jobs and pays activity fees, offering economic help, self-esteem, and opportunities for social participation at the same time," adding, "Seniors contribute to society on their own and the perception that they 'earn their keep' boosts self-esteem."
Launched off the activities of the senior volunteer group at senior centers in 2024, the project is now spreading quickly, centered on traditional markets. North Chungcheong Province, together with basic local governments, launched operating teams and enacted a related local government ordinance. It is also working in parallel to adjust systems for national funding support.
The project's scale is also growing quickly. The average daily number of participants was around 700 in Jan., but rose more than threefold to 2,341 last month. On Nov. 3, the daily participant count hit 3,065, a record high since the program began. A North Chungcheong Province official said, "The rise in participants shows that both seniors' desire for social participation and community demand are strong."
North Chungcheong Province is also reviewing ways to expand Working Bappeo nationwide. Similar programs have been introduced in Seoul and Sejong, and North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and South Chungcheong are considering participation.
Kim said, "Working Bappeo breathes energy into later life and adds value to communities—it's a win-win project," adding, "It will establish itself as a flagship policy for preparing for a super-aged society."