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\nThe Seoul Metropolitan Government announced that it would spend \u20a9451.3 billion or $327 million to stop its loneliness epidemic.
The funds would enable various initiatives over the next five years to \u201ccreate a city where no one is lonely.\u201d
These efforts include a 24\/7 hotline, in-person visits, and open spaces to help Seoul residents connect and communicate with each other.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that social isolation and loneliness are an expanding global issue. As a result, South Korea has been experiencing more deaths due to this mental health condition.
Seoul\u2019s Ministry of Health and Welfare reported that the number of deaths due to loneliness or \u201clonely deaths\u201d rose to 3,661 in 2023. In contrast, South Korea had 3,559 lonely deaths in 2022 and 3,378 in 2021.
Lonely deaths involved people who lived in social isolation. Also, bodies that authorities discovered only after \u201ca certain amount of time\u201d qualify.
An Soo-Jung, a psychology professor at Myongji University, told CNN that policies for the loneliness epidemic are \u201cabsolutely necessary.\u201d
\u201cThere needs to be careful consideration about how effectively these measures will be implemented,\u201d she added.
An explained that careful consideration is necessary because South Korea defines loneliness differently.
\u201cIn Korea, people say they feel very lonely when they feel they\u2019re not worthy enough or lack purpose.\u201d
Previously, CNN reported that Gen Z and Millennial Koreans experience loneliness due to being sensitive to criticism. Moreover, they\u2019re overly self-critical and afraid of failure.
A National Library of Medicine paper found that the loneliness epidemic reflects Korean culture\u2019s emphasis on \u201crelational orientation.\u201d
In other words, Koreans tend to define themselves concerning others around them. As a result, they feel deep melancholy if they\u2019re not \u201cmaking a significant impact on others or society.\u201d
\u201cOur society demands highly collective social living but often fails to respect the individual \u2013 meaning people struggle to deal with solitude or the feeling of failure,\u201d An added.
The Philippines is also struggling with a mental health crisis. Click here to learn how the country is addressing this issue.<\/p>\n