One of the trends gaining attention as a lifestyle choice for seniors is Aging In Place (AIP). AIP refers to the desire of the elderly to age in their chosen residence while maintaining familiar relationships, rather than moving to separate spaces like nursing homes.

According to the 2025 KB Golden Life Report titled 'Koreans' Preparation for Old Age and the Meaning of Home' released in September this year, a survey of 3,000 people from their 20s to over 70s showed that 80.4% agreed with the statement, "I want to continue living in the house or neighborhood where I have lived." This is an increase of 14.3 percentage points from 66.1% in 2023.

● Aging in place... AIP trend spreads

According to data released last year by the Korea Research Institute for Human Settlements, key services needed for elderly AIP include home maintenance and management services and housing environment modifications for convenient living. The institute suggested, "Support for housing maintenance and modifications is important, and a differentiated support approach considering the characteristics of different age groups from 60s to 80s and urban and rural areas is needed."

Recently, construction companies have been supplying housing utilizing smart technologies such as robots and AI, keeping in mind the AIP trend and considering elderly residents. By integrating mobility or automation services and healthcare technologies into housing, the elderly can manage their lives independently in their later years.

A representative example is healthcare services using telemedicine and AI chatbots. On the 5th of this month, Hyundai Engineering & Construction signed a business agreement with SolDoc, a telemedicine solution specialist, to develop online and offline healthcare services for residents of multi-family housing. Through this agreement, various new services such as AI chatbot-based personalized health management content and healthcare data linkage service models will be explored. The smart medical-based remote health management solution can integrate and analyze residents' health data and lifestyle and provide consultations via AI chatbots. This service is planned to be linked with Hyundai Engineering & Construction's apartment brand DH platform, MyDH application (app).

In particular, to provide health care services for elderly residents, AI chatbots and non-face-to-face medical services have been linked. This is designed to allow for the reservation of specialist consultations when medical advice is needed based on long-term health monitoring results. A Hyundai Engineering & Construction representative stated, "We will establish a system where even the elderly who are not familiar with the digital medical environment can experience medical services easily and safely at home."

Previously, GS Engineering & Construction also developed a service to provide customized health management reports to residents remotely through the integrated service app Xi Home. HDC Hyundai Development Company proposed AI-based health specialized services in the Songpa Hanyang 2nd Reconstruction Project.

● Enhancing resident convenience by integrating AI and robot technology into apartments

Technologies to assist residents' mobility are also being introduced. On the 18th of this month, Samsung C&T's construction division introduced the Raemian AI parking lot at 'Raemian One Perla' in Seocho-gu, Seoul. By combining AI technology, it analyzes residents' parking data and provides services recommending preferred parking locations or places close to their residential buildings. Parking locations can be checked through the wall pad installed at home and Samsung C&T's home platform, HomeNiq app.

In September, Hyundai Engineering & Construction proposed a robot-friendly apartment model in the Apgujeong District 2 Reconstruction Project. The structure allows robots equipped with an AI platform to autonomously move within the complex to assist residents' lives. Inside the complex, an unmanned shuttle applying Hyundai Motor and Kia's mobility service platform, Shucle, is planned to be operated. Shucle can adjust routes and operation times based on real-time passenger demand.

Additionally, Hyundai Engineering & Construction introduced an autonomous delivery robot service at 'DH Daechi Edelweiss,' completed in August. Developed jointly with robot startup Mavin, the autonomous delivery robot service delivers food and parcel items from the entrance of the complex to the front door of homes via elevators.

Jeong Soon-dul, a professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, stated, "AIP is expanding beyond the home to the concept of residing in the community," and predicted, "The demand for housing and community services suitable for the elderly will continue to grow."

Popular News