[2030 Youth Poverty②] Young People Avoid Meetings and Skip Meals... Increasing Housing Poverty in 20s and Welfare Poverty in 30s

Reluctant to Meet People Due to Money
Complaints of Daily Life Difficulties
26.9% Participation Rate in Government Education Programs

[Asia Economy reporters Jang Sehee, Gong Byungseon, Oh Gyumin] Lee Jiae (33, pseudonym), who lives in a goshiwon near Chungjeongno, rarely goes outside unless she needs to buy something special. There are no peers her age in the goshiwon, and most residents are in their 40s to 50s. She has long lost contact with her friends.

Seoul Station, Yongsan, Chungjeongno, etc. 'Hard to see young people'... Concerns over weakened interpersonal relationships

Those who are helping them also agree that it is difficult to see young people on site. Shin Seokcheol, director of Chamjoeun Chingudeul, which operates a free meal service near Seoul Station, said, "We provide breakfast and dinner, but young people rarely come, maybe once in a while," adding, "It seems they are conscious of the surrounding gaze."

It was also difficult to see young people at the Seoul Station jjokbang counseling center and the Dasi Seogi Comprehensive Support Center, which assist homeless people. Many homeless individuals were receiving daily necessities or free bathing services, but the majority were elderly people over 60. A representative from the Dasi Seogi Comprehensive Support Center explained, "Even if 20-30-year-old basic livelihood security recipients are in difficult situations, they do not come out to seek help and try to handle everything at home," adding, "They are generally scattered, and even if they come near the jjokbang village, they do not form deep relationships with others."

Economic and housing poverty in 20s, welfare poverty in 30s increase... "Policies should be designed centered on local communities"

In fact, more than half of vulnerable young people have difficulties in daily life. As their economic situation worsens, forming interpersonal relationships itself becomes impossible. According to the “Poverty Youth Human Rights Situation Survey” conducted by the National Human Rights Commission in 2019 targeting 1,000 men and women aged 19 to 34, 66.9% of respondents said, "I have hesitated to meet people because of money." Other responses included feeling burdened to celebrate family birthdays or other anniversaries (49.6%) and experiencing such hardship that they had to reduce essential living supplies (31.2%). The most desired government support was housing stability (32.1%), followed by job creation (17.5%) and living expense support (17.1%). The types of poverty differed by age group.

People in their 20s showed higher economic and housing poverty, while those in their 30s had higher rates of social capital and welfare poverty. Especially, single-person households were found to be at greater risk of welfare and housing poverty. On the other hand, participation in training and education programs supported by the government or local governments was low. Only 26.9% had participated in government education programs, and many answered that they did not even know such programs existed. The Human Rights Commission stated, "Community-centered policies that facilitate youth participation should be actively promoted," and added, "Local communities and young people should be closely connected to create jobs."