After being overshadowed by the ‘sex’ recession, South Korea now has a new problem. Thousands of middle-aged people are isolated and die ‘alone’ or alone. Often their bodies were only found days or even weeks after their deaths.
This phenomenon is called “godoksa” or “lonely death”. The phenomenon that has occurred recently is often dismissed by the government as it shows how their population is aging rapidly.
A “lonely” death is classified as a case of dying while living alone, being cut off from family or relatives, dying by suicide or disease.
What are Triggers?
Quoted from Cnnfactors behind the trend include the country’s demographic crisis, social welfare inequalities, poverty and social isolation, all of which have become more pronounced since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last year, South Korea experienced the Godoksa phenomenon killing 3,378 people, up from 2,412 in 2017, according to a report released on Wednesday by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The ministry’s report is the first since the government enacted the Prevention and Treatment of Lonely Deaths Act in 2021, when an update is needed every five years to help set policies to prevent dying from loneliness.
Although death from loneliness affects people in a variety of demographics, middle-aged and older men appear to be particularly at risk. The number of men who will die of loneliness will be 5.3 times that of women in 2021, up from four times the previous time.
People in their 50s and 60s accounted for up to 60% of lonely deaths last year, a large number also in their 40s and 70s. People in their 20s and 30s accounted for 6% to 8%.
The report did not address possible causes. But the phenomenon has been studied for years as authorities try to understand what drives these lonely deaths and how to better support vulnerable people.
“In preparing an aging society, it is important to actively respond to lonely death,” South Korea’s Legislative Research Agency said in a press release earlier this year, adding that the government’s priority is to quickly identify cases of social isolation.
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