Far from being a mere emotional inconvenience, loneliness has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an “urgent global health threat.” (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
SEOUL, Sept.17 (Korea Bizwire) – With South Koreans reuniting with family members for the Chuseok holiday, a growing number of individuals are finding themselves grappling with an intensifying sense of isolation.
Far from being a mere emotional inconvenience, loneliness has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an “urgent global health threat,” while the German government has labeled it a long-term consequence of the pandemic and a factor undermining democracy.
A survey conducted by Korea Research, released in February, sheds light on the demographics most vulnerable to loneliness in South Korean society.
The study, which polled 1,000 adults nationwide in December 2023, found that individuals with lower monthly incomes, those who perceive themselves as belonging to lower social classes, and single-person households reported higher levels of chronic loneliness.
The survey revealed that 32% of respondents earning less than 2 million won per month reported constant feelings of loneliness, more than double the rate (15%) for those earning over 7 million won.
Similarly, 22% of those who identified as lower class reported persistent loneliness, compared to 14% of those in the upper-middle class.
Single-person households also showed a higher propensity for loneliness, with 24% reporting constant feelings of isolation compared to 18% in multi-person households.
The number of single-person households in South Korea has surpassed 10 million. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Marital status emerged as another significant factor, with 33% of widowed or divorced individuals reporting persistent loneliness, markedly higher than both married (16%) and single (20%) respondents.
Korea Research emphasized that loneliness is not merely a matter of individual choice or control, but closely tied to one’s circumstances. Higher-income respondents and those living with others reported stronger social support networks across all categories surveyed.
The issue of loneliness is set to become increasingly pressing in South Korean society. According to the latest household projections released by Statistics Korea on September 12, the growth of single-person households is accelerating faster than previously estimated, particularly among the elderly.
By 2050, single-person households are expected to constitute 41.2% of all households, up from the previous projection of 39.6%. Moreover, by 2052, individuals aged 80 and above are predicted to make up 23.8% of single-person households, the largest share among all age groups.
Far from being a mere emotional inconvenience, loneliness has been recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as an “urgent global health threat.” (Image courtesy of Pixabay/CCL)
Recognizing the gravity of this issue, countries worldwide are taking action. The WHO established a dedicated international commission to address loneliness last November. In the United States, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has likened the health impact of loneliness to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Germany has recently announced measures to mitigate loneliness, identifying it as both a long-term pandemic consequence and a threat to democracy. The UK appointed the world’s first minister for loneliness in 2018, while Japan created a minister of loneliness and isolation in 2021.
The human cost of this epidemic was tragically illustrated last Chuseok when a man in his 40s was found dead in his Seoul apartment, believed to have died alone months earlier.
The deceased, a mathematics instructor at a prestigious academy in Gangnam and a graduate of a top university, was discovered by family members who had come to visit for the holiday.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
