“Hello Loneliness 120” promotional poster. (Image courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government)
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Korea Bizwire) — In a striking response to rising emotional isolation, Seoul’s “Hello Loneliness 120” helpline has received over 15,000 calls since its launch in April, far surpassing its annual goal by more than fivefold, according to the Seoul Welfare Foundation’s Isolation Prevention Center on Monday.
Launched as South Korea’s first loneliness prevention hotline, the 24/7 service provides emotional support and crisis intervention for residents grappling with isolation, depression, or social withdrawal. Staffed by trained counselors, the service offers assistance through both voice calls and chatbot-based messaging, including access via KakaoTalk and a dedicated webchat link.
The initiative was born in response to the growing challenges faced by the city’s expanding single-person households, which now make up nearly 40% of Seoul’s population—higher than any other region in the country. City officials noted that many of these individuals experience heightened levels of loneliness and emotional distress.
Strong Demand, High Satisfaction
The helpline surpassed 15,500 consultations by mid-August, reflecting what officials described as “explosive” early demand. A user satisfaction survey conducted in June and July among 130 users found an average rating of 4.4 out of 5. Older adults over 65 expressed the highest satisfaction at 4.7 points, and men (4.4) slightly edged out women (4.1).
Notably, respondents reported meaningful emotional improvements, including relief from loneliness (4.5), reduced feelings of depression (4.3), and increased emotional connectedness (4.1).
“You’re Not Alone”: City-Run Hotline Breaks Silence on Solitude (Image supported by ChatGPT)
More Than Just a Lifeline for the Isolated
Callers come from all walks of life—not only those living in isolation. One counselor recounted speaking with a middle-aged father who was being ostracized at work but couldn’t confide in his family. “He said he felt lighter just being able to talk to someone who listened,” the counselor recalled.
Staff at the helpline are seasoned professionals—former social workers and therapists—but they say the emotional toll of the work is real. “We hear people say they want to die more often than you’d think,” said one counselor. For safety reasons, counselors remain anonymous to prevent inappropriate attachments or stalking by emotionally unstable callers.
Bridging Crisis to Care
The center is designed not just for conversation, but also as a bridge to more structured care. Based on the nature of the call, counselors can connect individuals to social welfare agencies, police, or community centers. For those unable or unwilling to speak, chat options offer a discreet alternative.
The city is positioning the program as a core part of its broader effort to address urban loneliness—a growing issue in high-density, high-stress environments like Seoul. Experts say it’s a model that could serve as a blueprint for other major cities.
Seoul residents can access the service through the dedicated line by dialing 120 and pressing 5. Online chatbot consultations are available at qs.hiqri.ai/webchat/dasan or by searching “외로움안녕120” on KakaoTalk.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
