Seoul has announced plans to set aside $451.3 billion won (over a trillion UGX) to fight an alarming number of so-called godoksa, or lonely deaths.
Thousands of Southern Koreans aren’t found by their relatives or friends, but police find these bodies days or even weeks later. They report that the problem is most common among middle-aged men. The capital decided to act upon this growing societal issue with various measures to combat isolation and improve mental health of citizens.
Loneliness spread in South Korea
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the negative impact of loneliness on mental health has gained great awareness worldwide, leading to increased research and discussions about the subject.
However, in South Korea, social isolation has always been a subject of extensive discourse, with a large number of adults locking themselves at home, which often leads to severe psychological problems. The Ministry of Health and Welfare recorded 3,661 lonely deaths in 2023, indicating a continuous upward trend from previous years.
Lonely people are often prone to addictions and undesirable behaviors, such as excessive alcohol or drugs consumption, as they may seek these substances to cope with their emotional distress. For instance, researchers found that loneliness is directly associated with gambling in South Korea, and the National Gambling Control Commission (NGCC) reports that 5.5% of the Korean population is predisposed to develop a gambling addiction (click here to learn more about problem gambling).
However, “loneliness and isolation are not just individual problems, but tasks that society must solve together,” warned Oh See-hoon, mayor of Seoul.
Why are South Koreans lonely?
One might wonder if Koreans have always been a solitary nation or if other circumstances play a role. Culture turns out to be an important factor influencing the loneliness Koreans experience. An, a psychology professor, claims that in South Korea, people often say they’re lonely when they struggle with a sense of worthiness and lack purpose in their lives, as he stated for CNN.
Koreans usually determine their worth based on their contribution to society. Studies support this, showing they might feel lonely when they believe their role in society is insignificant. So, even though they’re surrounded by people and friends, they might still experience loneliness. Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) are the ones that mostly experience these feelings as a consequence of intensifying criticism and expectations they face both from themselves and the society.
However, according to An, there is no solid proof that Koreans are lonelier than other nations.
Japan faces a similar challenge. In 2022, the government conducted a survey that found that 4 out of 10 Japanese people feel lonely. In April 2024, a law aiming to fight loneliness came into effect, making the month of May a “strengthening measures month” in Japan.
Moving to the West, statistics show that over 7% of Great Britain population suffers from chronic loneliness. The country introduced a special Campaign to End Loneliness with a vision that “everyone can live a life free from chronic loneliness”.
Seoul takes steps towards a change
In October 2024, Seoul authorities proposed a plan to fight the loneliness epidemic, reduce the number of lonely deaths and create “a city where nobody is lonely”. Seoul mayor announced that the city would utilize all available resources to support individuals experiencing loneliness and facilitate their reintegration into society. To do that, a trillion UGX is going to be set apart to be invested in the next five years.
The money will go to building greener areas in the city, creating nutritious meal plans, organizing more community activities for elderly people as well as financing sports events and gardening or book clubs to encourage people to meet each other and reconnect. The authorities also plan to enhance the counsel platforms and 24/7 hotlines, with additional personal appointments and consultations if necessary.
Among other things, residents will be able to join the 365 Seoul Challenge, which will come with a special pointing system. The participants will collect points by taking part in the city’s events. These will be exchanged for tickets to several city attractions, enabling the citizens to explore the city of Seoul free of charge.
This is not the first time the government has introduced measures to end the situation. In April 2021, Lonely Death Prevention and Management Act was enacted to prevent the harm of lonely deaths and enhance public welfare. Later, in 2023, the government introduced an amendment that allows certain reclusive youth to receive financial assistance with the goal of facilitating their reintegration into society.
The experts consider the new initiative a positive first step but are rather skeptical of the attempt in general. Due to the elements of Korean culture, they think making people feel reconnected with just physical proximity might be an overly ambitious goal.
Source: The Observer
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