Oh Se-hoon "Loneliness, a Disease More Serious Than Infectious Diseases... Urgent Alternatives Needed for Relief" (Comprehensive)

Seoul City Invests 450 Billion Won for Comprehensive Support of Reclusive Households
Oh Se-hoon: "First in Korea and a Global Leading Case"
Early Detection of Isolated and Reclusive Citizens... Prevention of Recurrence
Expansion Linked with Isolation Prevention Centers Beyond Counseling Platform

There are 1.51 million single-person households in Seoul. As of 2022, this accounts for over 38% of the total population of Seoul. The proportion of single-person households, which was only 16% in 2000, has more than doubled in just over 20 years. Life has become even more depressing after COVID-19. The percentage of citizens reporting social isolation increased from 27.7% in 2019 to 34.9% in 2022.

Seoul's "Loneliness-Free Seoul" policy, announced on the 21st, is based on the understanding that loneliness experienced by citizens arises from complex factors throughout different life stages. It is recognized that young adults, middle-aged, and elderly people each experience loneliness leading to isolation and withdrawal for different reasons. According to government statistics, there are 130,000 isolated and withdrawn young adults, more than half of solitary deaths involve middle-aged men, and with the increasing number of isolated elderly, the elderly suicide rate is 2 to 3 times higher than the OECD average.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also introduced the policy on the same day, stating that "the focus is on mental health." He particularly pointed out, "Countries like the UK and Japan have started separate responses at the central government level to address loneliness, but South Korea has not yet reached that stage." Mayor Oh emphasized, "We are now in urgent need of alternatives to rescue citizens from loneliness, a social disease more serious than infectious diseases."

The solution is 'connection'... To solve loneliness by age group, 'social connection' must be restored

The solution proposed by Mayor Oh is 'connection.' Emphasizing that solutions differ by age group, he mentioned that social connection is necessary to resolve loneliness across all age groups. When social relationships can be restored, loneliness decreases and negative social phenomena including suicide are minimized. Mayor Oh said, "We expect this to be the first case in Korea and a global leading example."

The "Loneliness-Free Seoul" policy consists of three main strategies?▲Connecting Together ▲Connecting Links ▲Connecting Communication?and seven core tasks. A total of 451.3 billion KRW will be invested over five years to build the system, with the newly established Care and Loneliness Policy Office, created in July, overseeing the overall planning. The policy is significant in that all departments, bureaus, and offices of Seoul City are cooperating without administrative barriers to address the deepened loneliness, isolation, and withdrawal issues among Seoul citizens after the COVID-19 pandemic.

The core of this policy is to establish a step-by-step support system that identifies citizens in isolation and withdrawal early and reconnects them to society. By linking crisis information (46 types) such as gas and electricity usage with various administrative data, isolated and withdrawn households will be proactively identified. Convenience stores, laundromats, and other daily-life businesses frequently used by isolated households will be utilized as contact points for support applications.

First, a 24-hour platform will be established where citizens can always request help whenever they feel lonely. The online and offline platform "Ddokddok 24" will provide telephone, online, and comfortable visiting spaces. The core platform "Loneliness Goodbye 120" is a dedicated loneliness call center operating 24/7, scheduled to launch in April next year. After calling the 120 Dasan Call Center, pressing a specific number will connect callers directly to loneliness counselors.

A method will also be introduced to coordinate with Isolation Prevention Centers to conduct field visits, emergency interventions, in-depth counseling, and service linkage as follow-up measures. A system will be established to assign citizens who have escaped isolation and withdrawal as counselors to provide additional counseling. The "Social Isolation Household Support Center," established by Seoul City in October 2022 as the first of its kind nationwide to detect vulnerable isolated households and prevent solitary deaths, will be expanded and reorganized into an "Isolation Prevention Center."

Detailed measures including inducing outdoor activities using delivery apps... Mayor Oh Se-hoon: "Systematic management from prevention to healing"

The target of mental health counseling services, previously focused on high-risk groups, will be expanded to all citizens. To this end, the Seoul Metropolitan Psychological Support Center has been operating since August, and the "All Citizens Mind Investment Project," which utilizes private psychological counseling centers for easy access in daily life, has been running since July. The "All Citizens Mind Investment Project" provides one-on-one services once a week for a total of eight sessions, starting with 20,000 people this year and gradually increasing the number of participants from next year.

Events that invigorate participants will also be held regularly. Called the "365 Seoul Challenge," it will be conducted in the form of challenges linked to Seoul's representative events such as nature healing outings, sports and lifestyle programs, outdoor libraries for reading, and the Jamsugyo Ttubak Ttubak Festival. During this process, the project will connect with all departments, bureaus, and offices of Seoul City, as well as cooperate with private companies and challenge platforms in various fields such as leisure and culture.

Considering the characteristics of single-person households who mainly order food delivery, a pop-up window will be created within delivery app platforms to check the risk of isolation. In cooperation with delivery app companies, discount coupons for restaurant visits instead of delivery will be provided to actively encourage outdoor activities.

Measures have also been prepared for withdrawn households that refuse support and do not wish to apply for assistance. Various channels such as phone, apps, and websites will be created so that family members, neighbors, and others around them can also apply for support. The outreach system for discovering crisis households will be activated in cooperation with private organizations.

The "Seoul Youth Stretch Center" for isolated and withdrawn youth will also engage in various activities. The "Middle-aged Information Channel," which provides various information such as jobs and welfare for middle-aged people, will open in the first half of next year. A pilot program for a "Silver Car Rental Service," an assistive walking device to help vulnerable elderly with mobility difficulties go outside, is also under consideration. Additionally, for withdrawn citizens who are hardest to reach and refuse support, a "15-minute outing prescription" will help them step outside and recover their daily lives. Citizens who have experienced and overcome isolation will conduct counseling directly or reduce resistance through non-face-to-face video counseling, approaching step by step. Incentives will also be provided for initial counseling and contact to encourage participation.

Mayor Oh said, "Loneliness and isolation are not just individual problems but challenges that society must solve together," adding, "We will mobilize all administrative capabilities to create a happy city where no citizen is isolated, managing prevention, healing, social reintegration, and re-isolation prevention thoroughly."