(c) NEWS

[June 6, KOREA WAVE]It has been 20 years since the issue of “hikikomori” attracted social attention in South Korea. It has been pointed out that there is an urgent need for effective policies based on accurate diagnosis of isolated and reclusive youth.

According to the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, they are preparing to conduct a survey in the middle of next month to ascertain the scale, current situation, and characteristics of isolated and reclusive youth. This survey is the first to be conducted nationwide, and the results are expected to be announced at the end of this year.

“Isolated/reclusive youth” refers to young people aged 9 to 24 who do not have an intellectual disability or mental illness, spend most of their time in their own rooms or at home, and do not study or look for jobs. A child is classified as an isolated/reclusive youth if he or she has had little or no social contact outside of his or her family for more than three months.

Last year, the Korea Youth Counseling and Welfare Development Institute conducted a survey of 140 counselors who worked at youth counseling and welfare centers nationwide and had experience counseling isolated and reclusive youth. He filed a lawsuit.” 70.7% said they had “complained of anxiety,” and 64.3% said they “suffered from agora/social phobia.”

The term “hikikomori” began to attract attention in South Korea in the early 2000s. Since then, social interest and support for reclusive youth has expanded, but there is no official statistical data on isolated and reclusive youth.

(c)NEWSIS/KOREA WAVE/AFPBB News