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"Young adults in social isolation and seclusion are literally those who choose to isolate themselves or stay away from society. They lack any significant social connections with others beyond occasional interactions with family members they live with or professional contacts. We've put together this featurette to encourage you to take a moment and listen to the silent outcry for response that may be all around us."

Video Description

Type: KIHASA Policy Featurette

Topic: Young Adults in Social Isolation and Seclusion

Guest Speakers: Kim Seonga, Associate Research Fellow, KIHASA; Ryu Seung-kyu, CEO, Not Scary Co.; Kim Ok-lan, Director, Blue Whale Recovery Center

Transcript

"I just feel sorry for myself." "Why do I have to be stuck in this room all the time?" I thought I could fit well into society. I tried everything I could. But then, to my surprise, it never dawned on me that I could call out for help.

[Kim Seonga, Associate Research Fellow, KIHASA Welfare State Research Group]

Young adults who are socially isolated or in seclusion are literally those who choose to isolate themselves or stay away from society. They lack any significant social connections with others beyond occasional interactions with family members they live with or professional contacts. They lack a network of support to turn to for help, especially in trying times. In particular, 'young adults in seclusion' are those who choose their safe home or room as a last resort to lock themselves away.

Some have experienced domestic violence, others have faced violence at school, and still others have suffered from failed romantic relationships. It's not simple to classify the reasons for their isolation or seclusion. Instead of dwelling on the causes, I believe we'd better focus on the difficult circumstances of their isolation and seclusion.

[Ryu Seung-kyu, CEO, Not Scary Co.]

I think I've been through nearly five years of self-imposed reclusion. The first time around was when I was in my twenties. I felt like I had lost the meaning of life. It was difficult to communicate with even my own family. I used to dream of becoming something like a present-day influencer, but at that time, spending hours in front of a computer was frowned upon. The more I pursued my passion, the harder it became to overcome societal biases and receive support. Maybe I needed some voice of support, if you will, to pep me up, saying I could still be successful and blend well into society even if I didn't meet the qualifications our society demanded.

[Kim Seonga]

Since these reclusive loners live in seclusion, it's extremely difficult to locate them. But our estimation based on the available data says that there are roughly 300,000 to 500,000 young adults who are isolated, and approximately 100,000 to 200,000 who live in seclusion. However, there are no official statistics available.

[Kim Ok-lan, Director, Blue Whale Recovery Center]

If someone is deeply secluded, the first step is to comeout of that isolated environment. So, what comes first is to change the environment in which they are living in isolation or seclusion. Second, it's crucial to have them interact with some new people. They should spend time with other young people who are in similar situations and engage with various members of society. They jsut need to meet with different people. The third step is to spend time differently. They have developed specific patterns of living in isolation or seclusion, so they need to break such pattersn by doing things differently. Once these three conditions are met, they can establish a healthy daily routine. Ideally, I hope that, in the long run, there will be support centers for young adults who are experiencing isolation and seclusion.

If they keep themselves locked up, it's because they are already in too deep a state of isolation to come out of on their own. Without understanding that, parents become impatient. This might give them the idea that they are being pressured into therapy without their parents understanding their situation. Parents should acknolwedge their children's emotional state first. "You don't have to start working right away. Take your time." "I'm here for you whenever you need me." It's important that your children make their own choices and decisions. You should let them do that.

[Ryu Seung-kyu]

When you need someone to talk to, there is always someone there to hold your hand. Don't give up after just one visit to a counseling center. Just as there is medication that works better for each of us, there is a counselor who is a better fit for each of us. Take a step forward and try reaching out a bit more. If you reach out to us, we are here to help.

[Kim Seonga]

This year, in Gwangu, an ordinance was announced to support reclusive loners, which resulted in the opening of a support center. In Pusan, a survey was conducted to identify individuals who live in social isolation. In Seoul, the city is running a program to support young adults who are in social isolation or seclusion.

At the central government level, this year the Ministry of Health and Welfare is conducting a research and development project to creat a support model for young adults who experience social isolation or seclusion. The Ministry is also planning to conduct a nationwide survey next year to identify individuals who live in isolation and seclusion.

There are young adults who live in isolation or seclusion and do not know how to escape from such a lifestyle, even though it causes them great pain. When they feel a lot of pain and want to get out, they can reach out to professionals for help. Personally, I am committed to doing my best to support them.