Jobless, Isolated, and Angry: The Rise of South Korea’s Disconnected Youth (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, Feb. 5 (Korea Bizwire) – The growing number of young South Koreans living in near-total isolation is imposing an estimated 5.3 trillion won (about $4 billion) in annual socioeconomic costs, according to a new report released Thursday.
The study, conducted by the Federation of Korean Industries in collaboration with researcher Kim Sung-ah of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA), analyzed microdata from the Prime Minister’s Office’s 2024 Survey on Youth Life.
It estimates that about 537,863 people aged 19 to 34 — or 5.2 percent of the country’s youth population — were “reclusive youths” last year. The term refers to young adults who rarely leave their homes, excluding cases related to pregnancy, childbirth or disability.
The report calculates that each reclusive youth generates an average annual cost of roughly 9.83 million won. Of that, about 9.47 million won reflects lost productivity, including lower participation in economic activity, delayed family formation and weaker job performance compared with non-reclusive peers. The remaining 358,000 won represents policy costs, including unemployment benefits and basic livelihood support.
New Analysis Finds Millions in South Korea Have Limited Social Contact (Image supported by ChatGPT)
The findings point to a strong link between labor market detachment and social withdrawal. Among youths classified as “resting” — those outside the labor force who reported simply “taking a break” — 17.8 percent were found to be reclusive, a rate 6.6 times higher than that of employed youths.
For unemployed youths, the risk of isolation rose sharply the longer job searches dragged on. The probability of becoming reclusive climbed from 15.1 percent after one month of job seeking to 24.1 percent after 14 months, and to nearly 50 percent after 42 months.
The researchers argued that policy efforts must move beyond post-facto support and instead focus on breaking the pathway from temporary disengagement to full isolation. They called for more specialized and coordinated programs tailored to youths at different stages of withdrawal, ensuring smoother transitions between prevention and intervention.
Recommended measures include expanding job trial programs and workplace adaptation support for those in the “resting” stage, and strengthening case management, dedicated support organizations and communal living programs to rebuild daily routines and social skills for those already isolated.
“The key is systematic intervention before isolation becomes entrenched,” said Lee Sang-ho, head of economic policy at the federation. “We need stronger, dedicated institutions and more robust support for job search and work experience to prevent long-term disengagement among young people.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
