30% of Adolescents Report "Social Disconnection"... Seoul Steps Up Support for the 'Isolated'

"Companion School for Happiness" to Launch in March
Programs Connect School, Community, and Home
New Camp Courses Introduced for Adolescents and Parents Together

The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on February 27 that it will expand the operation of the "Youth Happiness Companion School," a program designed for socially isolated and reclusive adolescents. Moving away from a counseling-centered approach, the school now provides integrated support focused on play and activity-based programs.

The Youth Happiness Companion School launched pilot programs at two centers (Mokdong and Seodaemun) in 2024, and expanded to four centers (Mokdong, Seongbuk, Mapo, and Gwangjin) last year. This year, the program will further expand by recruiting approximately 1,200 participants across four courses, helping isolated and reclusive adolescents restore their social relationships.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government has taken note of the decline in social interaction among adolescents due to excessive academic competition and over-dependence on smartphones. According to a survey on adolescent isolation and reclusiveness released by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in March 2025, 3 out of 10 adolescents have experienced social disconnection, and among them, 65.5% cited difficulties in forming interpersonal relationships, such as with friends, as the main reason.

In response, the city will increase the number of participants for the Happiness Companion School and introduce customized programs for adolescents, as well as new camp programs aimed at restoring family relationships. It will also strengthen the support system by expanding participation opportunities and enhancing post-program follow-up management.

In 2026, the Happiness Companion School will operate three main courses reflecting the characteristics and interests of adolescents: the "Youth Talk Project," "Youth Talk School," and "Youth Talk Camp." The "Youth Talk Project" offers play, activity, and experiential programs for adolescents struggling with peer relationships; the "Youth Talk School" collaborates with schools to provide after-school courses, vacation programs, and free semester programs; and the "Youth Talk Camp" runs short-term camps during school vacations for youth in crisis.

Additionally, to ensure the positive changes experienced by adolescents through the Happiness Companion School are sustained at home, the city will run programs for parents and guardians in parallel. Jinwoo Jung, Director of Lifelong Education for the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, "As isolation and reclusiveness among young and middle-aged adults become increasingly serious, early prevention of depression and maladjustment during adolescence is a key task for our society. We will continue to strengthen support for adolescent recovery so that young people can reconnect with the world through play and experiential activities at the Happiness Companion School."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.