The South Korean government has announced a new initiative to provide financial support to socially isolated youths in the country. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family will offer a monthly allowance of up to 650,000 Korean won (approx. $500) to help young people who are defined as "reclusive lonely young people." These people are living in a "limited space" and disconnected from the outside world for an extended period of time, with noticeable difficulty living a normal life.
According to a report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, around 3.1% of Koreans aged between 19 and 39 fall into this category, which equates to about 338,000 people throughout the country. The report found that 40% of reclusive youths began their isolation during adolescence, with various factors at play including mental illness, financial hardship, family problems, and health challenges.
The new measures are part of the larger Youth Welfare Support Act, which aims to support young people who are extremely withdrawn from society, as well as those who lack a guardian or school protection and are at risk of delinquency. The monthly allowance support will be available to people aged between 9 and 24 who live in households earning below the median national income.
The initiative aims to support the psychological and emotional stability and healthy growth of reclusive young people, who can face physical growth challenges due to irregular living and unbalanced nutrition. They are also likely to face mental difficulties such as depression due to the loss of social roles and delayed adaptation.
The government report highlighted several case studies, including one young student who suffered from mental health issues and difficulties socializing since adolescence. She struggled to adjust to college and eventually withdrew further into herself. Another student faced domestic violence and hunger at home, making it difficult to leave the house or form relationships with people outside.
The report also detailed future plans for further action, such as distributing guidelines to local governments, boosting youth social safety nets and early detection systems, and working more closely with youth welfare facilities like shelters or rehabilitation centers. Some cities and local governments already have similar systems in place, such as Seoul's "Reclusive Youth Support Project," which provides mental health counseling, hobby development and work training, and life coaching for isolated young people.
This phenomenon is not unique to South Korea, with Japan also facing a similar problem known as hikikomori. A recent survey found that nearly 1.5 million young people in Japan are socially isolated, with some not even leaving their bedrooms. The pandemic has made things worse, with more than a fifth of those surveyed citing it as a significant factor in their reclusive lifestyle.