고독사예방법 - 의의ㆍ내용ㆍ과제 -

As the issue of lonely deaths is recognized as a social disaster, even a national disaster, beyond an individual level issue, efforts are made by the state and local governments to cope with it. The 「Act On The Prevention And Management Of Lonely Deaths」(Lonely Deaths Prevention Act) and the ordinances related to the lonely deaths well exemplify the efforts of the state and local governments on the lonely deaths. This article analyzes the Lonely Deaths Prevention Act and related ordinances to examine what policies the state is implementing to prevent lonely deaths, what limitations it has, and how it is desirable to improve it. Interestingly, the legislative response to the problem of lonely deaths was made in the following order: ‘Enactment of ordinances by basic self-governing bodies ⇒ Enactment of the Lonely Deaths Prevention Act ⇒ Enactment of ordinances of regional governments’. A bottom-up legal policy response to the problem of lonely deaths was carried out. However, the Lonely Deaths Prevention Act enacted in this background is currently lacking, but its meaning can be given in that it serves as the legal basis for the legal policy related to the lonely deaths. Of course, the Lonely Deaths Prevention Act should be continuously improved in the future. In addition, what this article emphasizes is that no matter how much the state helps people at risk of lonely deaths through the law, it is ultimately themselves who can solve the problem of lonely deaths. Therefore, each subject needs to have a mindset that respects each life itself. Furthermore, it is necessary to create attitudes and opportunities to actively communicate with others in the real world. And the state should support each subject to have these capabilities.