Can a city cure loneliness? Seoul is spending millions to try

In Seoul, you can call a city hotline at 3 a.m. just to say you feel lonely. You can walk into a 'Maeum (Korean for 'heart') Convenience Store' to eat free ramyeon and talk with someone about the emptiness you've been carrying for months.
These are not gimmicks. They are part of a sweeping five-year, 451.3 billion won ($330 million) effort by the Seoul Metropolitan Government to confront a crisis few cities have dared to name outright: loneliness.
South Korea is facing a growing epidemic of social isolation, with Seoul at its epicenter. People living alone now make up over 35 percent of all households in the capital. A recent Seoul Institute survey revealed that 62 percent of single-person households reported experiencing loneliness, while 13.6 percent were socially isolated.
A separate study by the city in 2023 estimated that approximately 130,000 young people between the ages of 19 and 39 are living in near-total social withdrawal, a phenomenon also discussed under the Japanese-derived term 'hikikomori.'
'Loneliness in Seoul is no longer a private burden,' said Lee Soo-jin, director of the Seoul Isolation Prevention Center, the country's first public agency tasked with identifying and assisting socially withdrawn residents. 'We are witnessing a mental health collapse across age groups. But for many, especially young people and older men, there's simply no obvious place to turn.'
Lee has spent the past year building outreach systems that can identify high-risk individuals who are often invisible to the formal social safety net.
Her team uses data-sharing agreements with welfare offices, utility companies and delivery services to identify signs of withdrawal, such as uncollected mail or repeated solo food orders. Once flagged, individuals are contacted through phone calls, home visits or digital channels and offered tailored support like counseling, peer mentoring or community group referrals.
The city's broader initiatives include a 24-hour support line integrated into the existing 120 Dasan Call Center, a chatbot for those uncomfortable with phone calls, and an online platform called Toktok24 that guides users toward counseling and community programs.
Still, scholars and ordinary citizens have questioned whether public policy can meaningfully address a condition as personal and complex as loneliness.
'Loneliness is not the same as being alone,' said Byun Geum-seon, a social welfare professor at Ewha Womans University who co-authored a major 2024 study on youth isolation. 'For some, solitude is freedom. For others, it's suffering. Governments can detect behavior. But the feeling of loneliness must be acknowledged by the person experiencing it.'
Byun's study, based on the Seoul Youth Panel Survey of over 5,000 respondents, identified seven distinct profiles of social isolation and loneliness. These ranged from economically disconnected youth to emotionally isolated individuals embedded within family or employment networks. Her research found a strong correlation between loneliness and mental health problems like depression and suicidal thoughts, even among those who weren't socially isolated in the traditional sense.
'In some cases, people are surrounded by others but still feel they cannot speak openly or be seen for who they are,' Byun said. 'This is especially common among young women living alone, and among men who feel they've failed to meet social expectations.'
Shin Hye-jin, a 28-year-old graduate student who moved to Seoul from Daegu five years ago, recalled how her first year in the capital felt more isolating than she could have imagined. 'I lived in a goshiwon (a small dorm-like room) near campus. I never met my neighbors. Even in class, no one talked unless we had to, for group projects,' she said. 'There were nights I realized I hadn't heard my own voice for days.'
Shin later joined a neighborhood 'Silent Walking' group she found on Danggeun Market, also known as Karrot, a hyperlocal app popular for trading secondhand goods that now hosts thousands of hobby-based social groups. 'It sounds silly, but walking silently next to strangers helped,' she said. 'It felt safe. No one expected anything from me.'
Since 2023, participation in Danggeun's neighborhood clubs has increased 20-fold, according to the company. These communities are often low-pressure and centered around shared identities or interests, covering niche topics from ADHD support to bread tasting. For many, they provide more sustainable social bonds than formal city-run programs.
Director Lee Soo-jin recognizes the limitations. 'Seoul City knows it cannot manufacture meaningful connections,' she said. 'What we can do is build the scaffolding. We can give people options for what to do when they realize they're struggling.'
Part of that scaffolding includes spaces like the Seoul Maeum Convenience Store, a cross between a mental health center and a cafe, where people can drop in anonymously for free meals, information or just a moment of calm. The city is also expanding peer support programs such as "Everyone's Friend," where formerly isolated residents are trained to provide outreach and emotional assistance to others in similar situations.
Professor Byun cautioned against a one-size-fits-all model. 'What reduces loneliness is not just connection, but continuity. You need to feel that you matter to someone, and that they will notice if you disappear.'
This is why the government's role is less about delivering relationships and more about making them possible. 'If someone walks into one of these city programs and leaves with a phone number or a reason to leave the house again next week, that's a small win that is worth the effort,' said Lee.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Korea Herald

a day ago

• Korea Herald

[Bio USA] Celltrion deepens global ties, unveils R&D vision at Bio USA

BOSTON — Korean biotech company Celltrion showcased its expanded vision as a next-generation drug developer at Bio USA this week, using the global stage in Boston to deepen ties with international partners and explore cutting-edge biotech collaborations. According to Celltrion on Thursday, the company held more than 150 meetings over the four-day event, engaging in discussions with global pharmaceutical and biotech firms on a wide range of potential collaborations. Over 1,800 visitors stopped by Celltrion's booth during the convention, as announced by the company. Focusing on its core mission of "new drug development" this year, the company concentrated on exploring partnership opportunities to strengthen its pipeline in areas such as antibody-drug conjugates, multispecific antibodies, novel antibody drugs and peptides. The company also held extensive discussions on open innovation initiatives aimed at identifying promising technologies in drug development. Celltrion plans to closely review the meetings from Bio USA to identify potential partners with high growth potential and technical capabilities. In addition, the company said it engaged in wide-ranging talks about expanding its distribution network, receiving collaboration proposals from various companies for drug transportation, storage and other logistical support. Celltrion supplies its biosimilar products through direct sales channels in major global markets. For countries where it relies on indirect sales, the company actively held meetings to strengthen its existing distribution networks. Beyond business meetings, Celltrion also conducted promotional activities throughout the event, such as placing QR-coded brochures throughout its booth to highlight the company's key businesses and major products. Visitors who participated in surveys were offered custom keychains as part of a fun event to drive engagement. 'There was notable interest this year in Celltrion's expansion into the new drug development space,' a Celltrion official said. 'We are committed to securing the best technologies and potential partnerships to advance our pipeline of novel therapeutics. These efforts will reinforce Celltrion's capabilities as it grows into a major global pharmaceutical company.' Celltrion has participated in Bio USA for 16 consecutive years since 2010, continuously seeking global partnerships.

Korea Herald

2 days ago

• Korea Herald

SNU family doctor named as physician to president

Park Sang-min, professor of family medicine at Seoul National University Hospital, has been named the official physician to President Lee Jae-myung, Lee's spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said Thursday. Kang said Park will practice Western medicine as Lee's physician. The presidential office has not unveiled the nomination of a personal doctor dedicated to Korean traditional medicine. The 50-year-old Park, who also heads the Health System Data Science Laboratory of Seoul National University's College of Medicine, has accompanied Lee's recent trip to Canada on the occasion of the Group of Seven summit, according to the presidential office. Seoul added that Park is not a full-time employee of the presidential office and will rather remain employed by Seoul National University Hospital.

Korea Herald

3 days ago

• Korea Herald

Peer-Reviewed Study in Nature Scientific Reports Demonstrates Non-Invasive Fat Reduction Using Alma's Energy-Based Technology

CAESAREA, Israel, June 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A newly published, peer-reviewed study in Nature Scientific Reports, part of the prestigious Nature Portfolio, presents compelling clinical evidence on the effectiveness of non-invasive energy-based technology for abdominal fat reduction. The study demonstrated statistically significant decreases in abdominal fat layer thickness in Korean women with abdominal obesity, following a series of ultrasound and radiofrequency treatments using Alma's Accent Prime platform. Conducted at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital by Dr. Yeo Ju Sohn and Dr. Hyejin Chun of the Department of Family Medicine at Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, the research confirmed measurable fat layer reduction through ultrasound imaging and waist circumference assessments. Patients reported high satisfaction and consistently strong tolerance throughout the treatment protocol, with no adverse events observed. This publication comes at a time when abdominal obesity is increasingly recognized as a key contributor to cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, both in South Korea and globally. According to the World Health Organization, more than 1 billion people worldwide are living with obesity—a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. As obesity rates continue to rise, so does the urgency for safe, effective, and accessible treatment options beyond surgical intervention. "This study highlights the evolving role of non-invasive modalities in body shaping and reinforces their potential significance in the broader context of health and wellness," said Lior Dayan, CEO of Alma. "This new publication strengthens the scientific foundation supporting Alma's technologies and showcases our commitment to advancing innovation that prioritizes patient safety, enhances the treatment experience, and keeps pace with the evolving needs of modern patients." Accent Prime combines proprietary ultrasound and radiofrequency technologies to deliver personalized, non-invasive treatments for body contouring, skin tightening, and facial rejuvenation. The platform is CE marked and approved for the treatment of various different indications, including facial and body contouring, skin tightening, cellulite reduction, and skin rejuvenation. Widely adopted by leading clinics worldwide, Accent Prime offers flexible, combination-based protocols that support tailored treatment strategies across diverse skin types and body areas—without the need for surgery or downtime. These proprietary ultrasound and radiofrequency technologies have also been clinically validated in other products from Alma's Body Contouring series, such as Alma PrimeX. Alma is a global leader in medical aesthetic solutions, with over 25 years of innovation. We empower practitioners to deliver safe, effective, and life-transforming treatments to their patients, utilizing state-of-the-art, clinically proven solutions such as energy-based device lasers, diagnostics, injectables, and advanced skincare. Alma's multiple award-winning products have set a new benchmark in the medical aesthetic industry, both in terms of clinical excellence and groundbreaking innovations.