This photo taken on May 18, 2023 shows a shanty village in western Seoul. Around 30 percent of the residents of this town are elderly singles. . (Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 11 (Korea Bizwire) — Currently, there are 50,000 households in Seoul that are at risk of solitary death, the city government said Monday.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Government, surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022 revealed that 52,718 out of 84,526 individuals were exposed to the risk of solitary death.
When categorized by gender, 53 percent were men and 47 percent were women. Additionally, 36.1 percent were in their 60s, 26.5 percent were in their 70s, and 19.4 percent were in their 50s.
Among the 24,440 individuals exposed to the risk of solitary death in the second survey, 71.9 percent stated that they lacked someone to take care of them when they fell ill.
Half of the respondents claimed they had no one to confide in when experiencing depression, and 33.5 percent engaged in conversations less than once a week.
Furthermore, 42.5 percent were living alone due to divorce, and 12 percent were without their family.
The majority, amounting to 76.6 percent, were unemployed, which was three times higher compared to households with at least one income earner.
A significant portion of the respondents resided in above-ground multiple-dwelling units (30.2 percent), leased apartments (21.4 percent), and underground multiple-dwelling units (17 percent).
More than half of the respondents, accounting for 55.1 percent, were grappling with disabilities and diseases, necessitating medical care. Additionally, 20 percent lacked a primary means for social activity.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
