South Korea lives a demographic catastrophe. They are not our words, they are those of your own government. The country has the lowest birth rate in the world, a very, very aged population and a huge loneliness problem that is even worse in the capital, Seoul. Thus, his government has put the machinery in motion to try to put a stop to it and its proposal is the following: a 322 million dollar plan called “Seoul Without Loneliness“, translated as
The South Korean problem. The Asian country has a birth rate of 0.7 children per woman. In the capital, where a fifth of South Korea’s population lives, it is even lower, falling to 0.5 children per woman. By 2025 is expected that one in five people is over 65 years old and, of all older people, 21.8% live alone. According to a study from the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs3.1% of people between 19 and 39 years old (that is, around 340,000 people) are considered lonely.
This has led to an extreme phenomenon that has its own name: godoksa. This term refers to solitary deaths, that is, people who come alone, die and are found after days or weeks have passed. In 2023 alone, 3,661 deaths of this type were recorded. It is, clearly, a huge problem.
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“Seoul Without Loneliness”. The Korean government announced this plan last October and describes it as “a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing loneliness and social withdrawal among its citizens.” To do this, the government will provide “systematic and multifaceted support” that will be based on three strategies: “Being together”, “Connecting together” and “Communicating together”. The investment will amount to 451.3 billion won, or $322 million.
be together. This first pillar contemplates the creation of a platform called “Knock Knock 24” that will allow citizens who feel alone to request advice by phone, chat or in specialized centers to address their situation. More than one hundred wellness and longevity centers will also be built for the elderly and an initiative will be expanded so that grandparents have healthier diets. For young people, the government is launching the 365 Seoul Challenge, a program that rewards participation in mass or outdoor activities.
Connect together. This second pillar will consist of identifying isolated families and doing everything possible to reconnect them with their neighbors. First, Seoul will analyze “various administrative data and 46 types of emergency information, such as gas and electricity usage” to detect isolated families/individuals. Convenience stores and laundromats that these families frequently visit will serve as contact points to offer support to those who are isolated.
Once these people are identified, they will receive a “Seoul Connection Recipe”, a three-stage program that consists of encouraging overseas activities, counseling sessions, encouraging commitment to activities and community building.
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Communicate together. Third, Seoul aims to “create open spaces throughout the city, foster empathy towards these problems through open communication among citizens, and lay the foundation for effective solutions.” In other words, eliminate the stigma of loneliness and bring it to public conversation in open spaces.
The root of the matter. This program is a step forward, but it does not address the root of the problem. South Korea is a very competitive country, with a culture of very established, hard work and very high social expectations, something that is reflected in its high suicide ratethe highest in the OECD. This program may help those who are aware of their loneliness and want to solve it, but may have little effect on those who do not want help.
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