Loneliness hits 62% of solo households in Seoul, city steps up care programs
More than 6 in 10 people living alone in Seoul say they often feel lonely, and over 1 in 8 report having no one to turn to in times of real need, according to a new study released Monday.
A survey of 3,000 single-person households by the Seoul Institute, a think tank funded by the city, found that 62.1 percent of respondents experience persistent loneliness. Another 13.6 percent fall into what researchers classify as social isolation: individuals with no support network when they are emotionally distressed, physically unwell or in sudden financial trouble.
The problem is especially stark among middle-aged men. In the 40 to 64 age group, 66 percent reported loneliness, and 15.8 percent were socially isolated. Marital status was also a major factor. Those who were married but living alone were the most likely to feel lonely, at 68.6 percent, followed by the widowed (66.8 percent), divorced or separated (63.8 percent) and never-married (59.6 percent).
These findings were based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. This is a common psychological tool that identifies loneliness through 20 self-assessment items, with a total score ranging from 20 to 80. For this study, a score above 43 was categorized as lonely.
National figures reinforce the trend. South Korea's official 2024 Social Indicators report, published by Statistics Korea in March, found that 21.1 percent of the population feels lonely, up from 18.5 percent a year earlier. The share of people who say 'nobody really knows me' also rose to 16.2 percent.
The stakes are serious. South Korea recorded 3,662 cases of 'lonely deaths' in 2023, or people who died alone without family or support. Men accounted for 84 percent of those cases, with more than half in their 50s or 60s, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
In response, Seoul launched a five-year, 451.3 billion won ($322 million) plan in October called 'Seoul Without Loneliness.' It includes emotional support hotlines, early detection systems and in-person care services. One key service, the 'Goodbye Loneliness 120' phone line, received more than 3,000 calls between April 1 and May 8. By dialing 120 and selecting option 5, residents can speak with trained counselors 24 hours a day for emotional support or referrals to additional services. Most callers were middle-aged adults (59 percent), followed by young people (32 percent) and seniors (8 percent).
The city is also testing out 'Seoul Maeum Convenience Stores,' which are community spaces in four districts where any resident can drop in for a free bowl of ramen and talk to trained staff or volunteers. Since March, more than 4,400 people have visited. Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited one Friday in Dongdaemun and said the program is still in its early stages but promised to expand it so 'anyone struggling emotionally has a place to go.'
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Korea Herald
7 days ago
- Korea Herald
Can a city cure loneliness? Seoul is spending millions to try
In Seoul, you can call a city hotline at 3 a.m. just to say you feel lonely. You can walk into a 'Maeum (Korean for 'heart') Convenience Store' to eat free ramyeon and talk with someone about the emptiness you've been carrying for months. These are not gimmicks. They are part of a sweeping five-year, 451.3 billion won ($330 million) effort by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to confront a crisis few cities have dared to name outright: loneliness. South Korea is facing a growing epidemic of social isolation, with Seoul at its epicenter. People living alone now make up over 35 percent of all households in the capital. A recent Seoul Institute survey revealed that 62 percent of single-person households reported experiencing loneliness, while 13.6 percent were socially isolated. 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Byun's study, based on the Seoul Youth Panel Survey of over 5,000 respondents, identified seven distinct profiles of social isolation and loneliness. These ranged from economically disconnected youth to emotionally isolated individuals embedded within family or employment networks. Her research found a strong correlation between loneliness and mental health problems like depression and suicidal thoughts, even among those who weren't socially isolated in the traditional sense. 'In some cases, people are surrounded by others but still feel they cannot speak openly or be seen for who they are,' Byun said. 'This is especially common among young women living alone, and among men who feel they've failed to meet social expectations.' Shin Hye-jin, a 28-year-old graduate student who moved to Seoul from Daegu five years ago, recalled how her first year in the capital felt more isolating than she could have imagined. 'I lived in a goshiwon (a small dorm-like room) near campus. I never met my neighbors. Even in class, no one talked unless we had to, for group projects,' she said. 'There were nights I realized I hadn't heard my own voice for days.' Shin later joined a neighborhood 'Silent Walking' group she found on Danggeun Market, also known as Karrot, a hyperlocal app popular for trading secondhand goods that now hosts thousands of hobby-based social groups. 'It sounds silly, but walking silently next to strangers helped,' she said. 'It felt safe. No one expected anything from me.' Since 2023, participation in Danggeun's neighborhood clubs has increased 20-fold, according to the company. These communities are often low-pressure and centered around shared identities or interests, covering niche topics from ADHD support to bread tasting. For many, they provide more sustainable social bonds than formal city-run programs. Director Lee Soo-jin recognizes the limitations. 'Seoul City knows it cannot manufacture meaningful connections,' she said. 'What we can do is build the scaffolding. We can give people options for what to do when they realize they're struggling.' Part of that scaffolding includes spaces like the Seoul Maeum Convenience Store, a cross between a mental health center and a cafe, where people can drop in anonymously for free meals, information or just a moment of calm. The city is also expanding peer support programs such as "Everyone's Friend," where formerly isolated residents are trained to provide outreach and emotional assistance to others in similar situations. Professor Byun cautioned against a one-size-fits-all model. 'What reduces loneliness is not just connection, but continuity. You need to feel that you matter to someone, and that they will notice if you disappear.' This is why the government's role is less about delivering relationships and more about making them possible. 'If someone walks into one of these city programs and leaves with a phone number or a reason to leave the house again next week, that's a small win that is worth the effort,' said Lee.
Korea Herald
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- Korea Herald
Exposure to secondhand smoke rises after 3-year decline
Seoul Station Square to be designated as no-smoking zone from June The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor spaces in South Korea rose in 2023 after falling for three consecutive years, according to a report released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, Thursday. Secondhand smok, as defined by the governmental agency, refers to individuals inhaling smoke from someone else's cigarette or e-cigarette. As cigarette smoke contains carcinogenic and other harmful substances, secondhand smoke can contribute to 'early death in non-smokers,' the KDCA said. According to the KDCA, the rate of exposure to secondhand smoke in indoor public spaces and indoor workspaces in 2023 was 8.6 percent and 8 percent, respectively. For both indoor public spaces and workspaces, the exposure rate of secondhand smoke fell from 2020 to 2022. After the exposure rate for indoor workspaces reached 14.1 percent in 2019, it decreased to 10.3 percent in 2020 and 6.3 percent in 2022. For indoor public spaces, the rate was also highest in 2019 at 18.3 percent. Before decreasing to 12 percent in 2020 and 7.4 percent in 2022. The rate for 2023 was 8.6 percent. Although the household exposure rate was relatively low, the KDCA noted that it followed the same trend. While it had recorded up to 4.7 percent in 2019, it had decreased to 2.6 percent in 2022, before rising again to 3 percent in 2023. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, the Ministry of Health and Welfare stated that it will work to 'support all revisions and implementations of laws related to regulating all types of tobacco, including new kinds such as e-cigarettes.' In relation to the government's stance, Seoul Station Square in Jung-gu, central Seoul, will be designated as a non-smoking zone from June 1. From June, smokers will be required to use the smoking booths located around the Seoul Station Square and those who are caught not abiding by this new rule will be fined up to 100,000 won ($72).
Korea Herald
19-05-2025
- Korea Herald
Loneliness hits 62% of solo households in Seoul, city steps up care programs
More than 6 in 10 people living alone in Seoul say they often feel lonely, and over 1 in 8 report having no one to turn to in times of real need, according to a new study released Monday. A survey of 3,000 single-person households by the Seoul Institute, a think tank funded by the city, found that 62.1 percent of respondents experience persistent loneliness. Another 13.6 percent fall into what researchers classify as social isolation: individuals with no support network when they are emotionally distressed, physically unwell or in sudden financial trouble. The problem is especially stark among middle-aged men. In the 40 to 64 age group, 66 percent reported loneliness, and 15.8 percent were socially isolated. Marital status was also a major factor. Those who were married but living alone were the most likely to feel lonely, at 68.6 percent, followed by the widowed (66.8 percent), divorced or separated (63.8 percent) and never-married (59.6 percent). These findings were based on the UCLA Loneliness Scale. This is a common psychological tool that identifies loneliness through 20 self-assessment items, with a total score ranging from 20 to 80. For this study, a score above 43 was categorized as lonely. National figures reinforce the trend. South Korea's official 2024 Social Indicators report, published by Statistics Korea in March, found that 21.1 percent of the population feels lonely, up from 18.5 percent a year earlier. The share of people who say 'nobody really knows me' also rose to 16.2 percent. The stakes are serious. South Korea recorded 3,662 cases of 'lonely deaths' in 2023, or people who died alone without family or support. Men accounted for 84 percent of those cases, with more than half in their 50s or 60s, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare. In response, Seoul launched a five-year, 451.3 billion won ($322 million) plan in October called 'Seoul Without Loneliness.' It includes emotional support hotlines, early detection systems and in-person care services. One key service, the 'Goodbye Loneliness 120' phone line, received more than 3,000 calls between April 1 and May 8. By dialing 120 and selecting option 5, residents can speak with trained counselors 24 hours a day for emotional support or referrals to additional services. Most callers were middle-aged adults (59 percent), followed by young people (32 percent) and seniors (8 percent). The city is also testing out 'Seoul Maeum Convenience Stores,' which are community spaces in four districts where any resident can drop in for a free bowl of ramen and talk to trained staff or volunteers. Since March, more than 4,400 people have visited. Mayor Oh Se-hoon visited one Friday in Dongdaemun and said the program is still in its early stages but promised to expand it so 'anyone struggling emotionally has a place to go.'
