“Current Status of Isolated and Reclusive Youth: Report by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA)”

According to a survey result, 5 out of 100 young people are isolated without being able to get help even when they are in a difficult situation, with no contact with others. According to a recent report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA) on the 14th, “Current Status of Isolated and Reclusive Youth and Support Plans,” the proportion of isolated young people among young people between the ages of 19 and 34 was found to be 5.0% as of 2021. This is an increase from 3.1% in 2019 to two years ago. An isolated young person refers to a young person who does not have meaningful interaction with others and does not have a ‘support system’ to ask for help in times of difficulty. “Physical distancing, which was inevitable to protect life (after COVID-19), has changed the aspect of social relationships,” said Kim Seong-ah, associate researcher at the Korea Institute of Health and Welfare, in a report. Experience is not just a matter of now. He pointed out that it can leave scars (scar effect) throughout life as we age into middle-aged and elderly people.” In fact, 4 out of 10 isolated young people were found to be dissatisfied with life (very dissatisfied 17.2%, dissatisfied 26.8%). In the case of non-isolated young people, the response of ‘dissatisfied’ was nearly twice as high as 23% (very dissatisfied 4.7%, dissatisfied 18.3%). Only 8% of the isolated young people answered that they were ‘very satisfied’ with life, and only 8.3% responded that they were ‘slightly satisfied’. The reason why isolated young people go out relatively less frequently was also noticeable. When asked why they did not go out, the main answer was ‘other’, and researcher Kim explained that it was “difficult to choose even a clear reason for being secluded.” The following were followed by ‘not being able to find a job’, ‘human relations’, and ‘stopping school’. In addition, isolated youth were placed in a more difficult environment than non-isolated youth in terms of education or income level. Among isolated young people, the proportion of high school graduates or lower was 28.9%, higher than that of non-isolated young people (16.5%). More than half of the isolated young people (53.1%) answered that they had not engaged in economic activity in the past week, which was different from the non-isolated young people (41.5%). In terms of subjective income level, 32.8% of isolated young people answered ‘very insufficient’, which is almost twice as high as non-isolated young people (16.9%). Researcher Kim said, “Isolated and secluded young people are a newly discovered welfare demand and a new vulnerable class after the pandemic.” It must be something,” he explained. Reporter Kim Yun-ju kyj@hani.co.kr