[Youth Isolation 24 Hours] A Day Spent Without Saying a Word... Isolation Caused by Employment Struggles

<1>Isolated and Reclusive Youths Interviewed by Asia Economy
②Isolation Beginning with Employment
Youths Moving Alone to Other Regions Cut Off from Family and Friends
Unavoidable Independence Exacerbates Youth Isolation Issues

Editor's NoteWhen eating alone after work, having hundreds of contacts saved on your phone but no one to confide in when things are tough, or being unable to ask for help when sick or out of money... The young people in their 20s and 30s whom Asia Economy met confessed that they felt isolated in such moments. Could this be your story? If you have thought that words like 'hikikomori' or 'eundunhyeong oettori' (reclusive loner) are stories from a different world, now is the time to properly reconsider isolation and seclusion.

"There are quite a few cases where young people become isolated after moving to work in provinces outside the metropolitan area." (Kim Seong-ah, Associate Research Fellow, Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs)

The lack of family or other support pillars at the workplace is the biggest reason young people avoid working in provinces. In June 2022, the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry surveyed 301 young people living in the metropolitan area who were job hunting about reasons for avoiding provincial work, and the top response (60.7%) was "because there is no network of family or friends."

We listened to the stories of four young people who, regardless of their will, chose to go alone to the provinces just for "employment." These young people, who started independent living away from family and friends, confessed that they especially feel isolated when they come home after work and eat instant or delivery food, realize late that they have not spoken a word all day, or are sick but alone and unable to get help from anyone.

Seok Ji-hye (26, pseudonym), a marketer who recently moved from living her whole life in the metropolitan area to Jeonju, Jeollabuk-do, chose to go to the provinces for employment but feels lonely every day because she cannot share her daily worries and emotions. Working at a company related to hair loss, she has no peers at work, which deepens her sense of isolation. She has moved beyond feelings of loneliness to the point of fearing that she might remain alone like this.

A office worker is walking through an alley in Seoul under the afternoon sunlight. Photo by Heo Young-han

Kang Min-hyeok (29, pseudonym), who works at a public enterprise, only found out about his sudden personnel transfer three days before the move through an official document. He left his home in Bucheon, Gyeonggi-do, and set up a new base in Chungju, Chungcheongbuk-do. Kang is alone in his new place. Even if he becomes friendly with new colleagues, it is difficult to share personal stories due to the risk of rumors or misunderstandings at work. Kang said, "Personnel transfers are made without considering employees' residences, personal circumstances, or preferences," adding, "I cannot live my life proactively and just move as the company tells me to." He also said, "Of course, if I really wanted, I could quit and return to my old home, but in an era where youth employment is serious, quitting a hard-won job is realistically difficult."

"If I show my depressed side to my family, they worry. My friends are busy working, so it's hard to open up to them about my worries. That's why I watch YouTube. I watch videos of people with similar worries and endure my feelings alone. That's how I try to stay strong."

After preparing for the civil service exam for two years and finally receiving his acceptance certificate, civil servant Joo Sang-eun (27, pseudonym) was also notified of his transfer seven days before his first day. Due to a past experience of nearly having a traffic accident, Joo had driving trauma, and one reason he learned to drive was to leave his workplace on weekends. His family home in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do, is about a 4 hour 30 minute round trip by car and about 4 hours 40 minutes by train. Joo said, "Having to spend time completely alone at home after work strongly contributes to my sense of isolation," adding, "I tried to join local youth communities, but most members were either locals or young farmers and self-employed people who had already settled, so it was hard to fit in. Since I will probably be transferred to another region, I wonder what meaning there is in building new relationships."

"I will probably be moved to another place, so is it meaningful to make new friends? Maybe these thoughts are worsening my isolation. I feel lonely because there is no one to share my worries with."

Choi Hyun-ah (33, pseudonym), who lived in the metropolitan area and succeeded in getting a job at a public institution and now lives a lonely independent life in Jinju, Gyeongsangnam-do, said she hopes companies and local governments recognize that someone inevitably has to work away from home and actively address the issue of isolation. She said, "Especially since this problem occurs frequently among public institution workers, the government and local governments should naturally play a role," adding, "As more public institutions relocate to provinces, more active communication and policy support from companies and local governments are needed."

The anxiety that relationships cannot continue long-term causes people to choose isolation themselves. Yoo Min-sang, a research fellow at the Korea Youth Policy Institute who conducted the 2022 study "The Reality and Support Measures for Social Isolation of Youth," said, "Even if you get along well at first, when you think 'I have to repeat this lifestyle after my contract ends or after I move again,' you may build walls around relationships and gradually become isolated." He warned, "Then, if you become too lonely and isolated, you may stop participating in society and move toward seclusion."

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If you want to read the 'Youth Isolation 24 Hours' articles

<1>Youth isolated and reclusive people Asia Economy met
① I am a 28-year-old isolated youth... "A person who cannot fulfill a one-person role"
② Isolation caused by employment... A day spent without saying a word all day
③ Harder than parenting is having no one to talk to... That’s how depression came
④ Eating instant rice and ramen for 3 years and playing games all day... When emotional instability worsens, eventually