Busan Metropolitan Council to Address ‘Lonely’ Single-person Households

As many as 34 percent of all residents in Busan live alone, 27 percent of whom are known to be seniors. (image: Korea Bizwire)

BUSAN, Feb. 7 (Korea Bizwire) — With an increasing number of single-person households in South Korea, the Busan Metropolitan Council plans to deliberate on a ‘loneliness prevention’ bill.

“We are trying to develop new legislation that can address the loneliness problem, which is becoming a serious social issue resulting in suicide and solitary deaths,” said Park Min-seong, a member of the Busan Metropolitan Council.

As many as 34 percent of all residents in Busan live alone, 27 percent of whom are known to be seniors.

Out of 206 administrative districts in Busan, more than single-person households account for more than 40 percent of all residents in 78 districts.

Once the draft is made available, the council will begin deliberating on the bill in March.

“Busan is struggling from a structural problem of loneliness,” said Park. “We need to come with a solution now to help those in need.”

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)