"Mom, Shall We Take a 'Hotel Staycation' at Grandma's? A Grandparents' Home Where Three Generations Gather Comfortably Without Worrying About Meals or Cleaning [Report]"

Visiting "Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning" in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province
Silver Housing and Officetels in One Complex: Parents and Children Living Together
Nurses On Site 24 Hours a Day... Intense Competition for Over 30 Classes

"There are more than just one or two programs I'd like to join, but they're so popular. They fill up in an instant, so it's hard to register."

At the 'Community Plaza' located between Complex 1 and Complex 2 of 'Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning' in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province, a resident was appealing to Taegun Kang, CEO of Empore, who manages the complex, to increase the number of available spots in the programs. The program information board at one side of the plaza was filled with schedules for classes such as aquarobics, meditation, English, calligraphy, watercolor painting, and pansori. The community runs over 30 different programs, and the facilities cover an area of approximately 11,600 square meters.

Residents are swimming in the indoor pool at Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Seo-yoon Choi

The residents encountered in the complex defied the vague image of a "quiet place to rest after retirement" that is often associated with senior housing. In the music practice room, one resident was playing the piano with sheet music spread out, while in the gymnasium, another resident was seen shooting basketballs. In the billiard room, groups of residents were chatting as they waited their turn.

On the communication board in the Go room, there was a note seeking club members for shared hobbies. At the end-of-year event last year, a resident voluntarily took the stage with neighbors to perform a belly dance. It was clear that 'active seniors' who are enthusiastic about hobbies and personal development were shaping the atmosphere of the complex.

Korea's First 'Intergenerational Coexistence' Residential Complex for Parents and Children

Entrance to the Baegun Lake Prugio Morning in the Forest complex in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province. The resident shuttle bus is waiting in front of Complex 1. The shuttle bus operates 11 times a day on the Indeokwon Station route and 6 times a day on the Pangyo Station route, also passing through Lotte Premium Outlet and Hallym University Hospital. Photo by Seo-yoon Choi

This is a residential complex near Baegun Lake in Uiwang developed by MDM Group, Korea's leading real estate developer. It is operated by Empore, an affiliate of MDM Group.

Although the complex is located between Baegun Lake and Moraksan Mountain, it is not at all isolated. The Gwacheon-Bongdam Expressway, Cheonggye Interchange, runs right next to it, and Gwacheon City is less than a 10-minute drive away. Lotte Premium Outlet is also nearby.

The complex began accepting residents in November last year and consists of 536 senior housing units (welfare housing for the elderly) and 842 officetel units. While outfitted with the unique residential, medical, and leisure infrastructure of a senior town, it is designed so that middle-aged residents and their children can live together in the officetel units.

Residents are having lunch at the dining hall of Baegunhosu Prugio Morning in the Forest Complex 1 in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. The dining hall was visited not only by residents but also by families with their grandchildren. Photo by Choi Seoyoon

CEO Kang explained, "This is the first 'intergenerational coexistence' complex in Korea where three generations, including parents, couples, and children, can interact and live together within one community. For example, the parents may live in the senior housing while their children live in the officetel units." He further emphasized, "We're breaking away from closed facilities where only the elderly live together, instead fostering daily interactions with younger generations." In fact, young residents are often seen in the study café and gym within the complex.

Face-to-Face Registration for Residents Unfamiliar with Apps... Feedback on the Dining Hall Collected Through Handwritten Notes

The active lifestyle of these seniors is supported by a large-scale operational staff of over 100 people and a communication system. CEO Kang stated, "People come here not simply because they are financially well-off, but because they seek human warmth, that is, the 'human touch.' While shortcomings in meals or program operations can be fixed, the attitude toward residents must be ingrained from the very beginning." He added, "That is why I always stress kindness as the top priority to our staff."

Taegun Kang, CEO of Empore, is explaining the program schedule to residents in front of the program information board set up at the community plaza of Baegun Lake Prugio Forest Morning in Uiwang, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Seo-yoon Choi

The way residents' complaints are handled is also tailored to the needs of the elderly. There is a complaint portal on a smartphone application, but for those who are not comfortable with digital devices, face-to-face consultations are actively encouraged. There is a real-time group chat involving 16 staff members from six relevant departments—management office, operations center, construction company, dining hall, and nursing team—where any complaint is immediately shared, and staff visit the relevant household to inform them of the resolution timeline. Every day at 9:20 a.m., all staff gather for about 40 minutes to review and address complaints. CEO Kang explained, "We removed barriers between departments to speed up the resolution process."

The temperature of the sauna's hot bath is a prime example. When there were differing opinions among residents at the beginning, the temperature was adjusted by increments of just 0.1 degrees Celsius over the course of a month to gauge reactions. CEO Kang stated, "The optimal temperature we arrived at was 41.3 degrees Celsius. Since then, there hasn't been a single complaint about it." Similarly, to promptly address dissatisfaction with the dining hall at the outset, 10 residents were invited to a 100-minute meeting, and a handwritten feedback notebook is provided daily for residents to rate the taste and texture of meals, allowing for immediate reflection of their feedback.

24-Hour Medical Network and Solutions for Meals and Cleaning... Becoming a 'Family Resort' Where Three Generations Gather

Residents are playing billiards at the billiard room, a community facility of Baegunhosu Prugio Forest Morning in Uiwang-si, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Seoyoon Choi

The most sensitive aspect of senior housing management is emergency response. Although medical staff are not a legal requirement under the Elderly Welfare Housing Act, this complex employs five nurses who maintain a 24-hour shift system. When an emergency alert is triggered in a resident's unit, a signal appears on the administrator's app, and a nurse from the health management center and an on-duty staff member rush to the scene immediately.

CEO Kang said, "Unexpected accidents can happen to elderly people even at home. Some have fallen while trying to reach for something standing on a wheeled chair, while others have suddenly become dizzy or experienced muscle stiffness." He added, "There have already been about 10 cases this year alone where a nurse provided first aid, and I personally accompanied them in the ambulance to the emergency room." Major hospitals such as Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, and Bundang CHA Hospital are all within a 15- to 30-minute drive from the complex.

Costs vary depending on the complex and unit size. The security deposit is higher for Complex 1, which has better access to major community facilities such as the swimming pool and large dining hall, compared to Complex 2. Residents can stay for four years without any additional deposit increases. The monthly living fee, which is separate from the deposit, includes 30 meals per month, cleaning service for each household twice a week, use of the shuttle bus (serving Pangyo Station, Indeogwon Station, Lotte Outlet, Hallym University Medical Center, etc.) and amenities, as well as an annual health checkup.

Residents who have chosen to pay the higher fees are satisfied because of the changes in their daily lives. CEO Kang said, "In the past, when parents suggested visiting their grandparents, children used to say it would be boring. These days, I've often heard from residents that their grandchildren beg to visit because there are swimming pools and table tennis rooms." He added, "With less worry about cleaning or meals, seniors can enjoy their leisure time, and children and grandchildren visit more comfortably. The senior town is no longer just a place for the elderly to live separately; it is becoming a space where families come together to relax and share laughter."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.