South Korea is experiencing a demographic disaster. These are not our words, these are the words of your own government. The country has the lowest birth rate in the world, a very, very old population, and a massive loneliness problem that’s even worse in the capital, Seoul. So his government has set in motion the machinery to put an end to this, and here’s what he’s proposing: a $322 million plan called “Seoul Without Loneliness.”

south korea problem. The Asian country has a birth rate of 0.7 children per woman. In the capital city, where one fifth of South Korea’s population lives, this rate is even lower, falling to 0.5 children per woman. By 2025, one in five people is expected to be over the age of 65 and 21.8% of all elderly people are expected to live alone. According to a study by the Korea Institute of Health and Social Affairs, 3.1% of people aged 19-39 (that is, approximately 340,000 people) are considered lonely.

This led to an extreme phenomenon that bears his name: godoksa. This term refers to solitary deaths, that is, people who arrive alone, die, and are found days or weeks later. In 2023 alone, 3,661 such deaths were recorded. It is clear that this is a huge problem.

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“Seoul Without Loneliness”. The Korean government announced this plan last October, describing it as “a comprehensive plan aimed at addressing loneliness and social withdrawal among its citizens.” For this, the government will provide “systematic and multifaceted support” 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 envisages the creation of a platform called “Knock Knock 24”, which will allow citizens who feel lonely to request advice by phone, chat or from special centers to address their situation. More than a hundred wellness and longevity centers for the elderly will also be built, and an initiative to promote healthier nutrition for grandparents will be expanded. The government is launching the 365 Seoul Challenge, a program for youth that rewards participation in mass or outdoor events.

Connect with each other. This second pillar will consist of identifying isolated families and doing everything possible to reconnect them with their neighbours. First, Seoul will analyze “various administrative data and 46 types of emergency information such as gas and electricity usage” to identify isolated families/individuals. Grocery stores and laundromats that these families frequently visit will serve as points of contact to provide support to those who are alone.

Once these people are identified, they will be given the “Seoul Connection Recipe”, a three-stage program consisting of promoting overseas activities, mentoring 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 for these problems through open communication among citizens, and lay the foundation for effective solutions.” In other words, remove the stigma of loneliness and bring it into public conversation in open spaces.

root of the matter. This program is a step forward, but it does not address the root of the problem. South Korea is a highly competitive country with a highly established, challenging work culture and very high social expectations; This is reflected in the highest suicide rate in the OECD. This program may help those who are aware of their loneliness and want to address it, but may have little impact on those who do not seek help.

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