220,000 Hidden and Isolated Youth in Gyeonggi Province... 5.9% of Youth in the Province

First Report on Survey of Isolated and Reclusive Youth in the Province

The number of isolated and reclusive youth in Gyeonggi Province was estimated to be around 220,000. This corresponds to 5.9% of the 3.67 million youth aged between 19 and 39 in the province. This is the first time that survey results on isolated and reclusive youth in the province have been announced.

On the 20th, Gyeonggi Province held the ‘Gyeonggi Isolated and Reclusive Youth Support Forum’ at the Gyeonggi Arts Center Convention Hall and announced the results of the survey reflecting these findings.

According to the survey results, among the 3.67 million youth population in the province, 216,000 (5.9%) were identified as isolated youth, and 121,000 (3.3%) as reclusive youth. Among them, about 220,000 were counted as having both isolated and reclusive tendencies.

Isolated youth are defined as those who cannot form meaningful relationships with others and find it difficult or impossible to ask for help when facing difficulties, while reclusive youth are those who stay in limited spaces such as rooms or homes and have little to no interaction or relationships with others or society. Gyeonggi Province added that most respondents exhibited both tendencies depending on their condition during the survey.

Through the investigation of the duration and onset of isolation and reclusion, as well as policy needs, Gyeonggi Province confirmed the necessity of ▲ long-term support and tailored policy development ▲ training of specialized institutions and activists ▲ operation of mentoring programs ▲ establishment of support programs for potentially isolated and reclusive youth.

Lee In-yong, Director of the Youth Opportunity Division of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The issue of isolation and reclusion is not an individual problem. Our society must collectively consider and find solutions." He promised, "We will carefully support the daily recovery and independence of isolated and reclusive youth by developing the discussions held at this forum."

Poster for the Gyeonggi Isolated and Reclusive Youth Support Forum. Provided by Gyeonggi Provincial Government

Meanwhile, the event was live-streamed both online and offline through the Gyeonggi Youth Support Project Team’s YouTube channel under the theme ‘A World Connected by Knowing and Sharing.’ The event was divided into performance presentations, presentations and comprehensive discussions, and online lectures.

First, there were performance presentations on the survey results of isolated and reclusive youth in Gyeonggi Province, the operation outcomes of support programs for isolated and reclusive youth, and testimonials from youth participants in the programs.

Next, during the presentations and comprehensive discussions, various field cases and policy proposals regarding mental health, youth spaces, and community support measures were presented, followed by discussions on practical policies and community cooperation plans to solve the problems of isolated and reclusive youth.

Following this, online lectures were given by psychiatrist Kim Ji-yong (Understanding the Characteristics of Youth and the Importance of Mental Health), writer Jang Jae-yeol (If You See Youth Around You Falling into Isolation), and Son Ha-bin, CEO of Mitmi Online Community (How to Create Our Safe Zones).