Authorities in South Korea’s capital, Seoul, plan to spend 451.3 billion won (about $327 million) over the next five years to tackle “lonely deaths” — a crisis that follows thousands of citizens, mostly middle-aged, each year. Men die alone. Go unnoticed by your family and friends.
The deaths, known in Korea as ‘Godoksa’, are part of a larger problem of loneliness and isolation in the country, as the government is doing everything it can to fight it. According to CNN reports, it sometimes takes days and even weeks for authorities to find these bodies.
Seoul officials announced the $327 million initiative this week, saying they want to “build a city where no one is alone.”
Additionally, they will provide loneliness counselors on a 24/7 hotline and an online platform for similar counselling, in addition to other follow-up measures such as personal visits and counselling.
In an official release, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said city officials would mobilize all their municipal capabilities to help people feeling lonely recover and “return to society.” Oh Se-hoon said, “Loneliness and isolation are not just individual problems, but tasks that society must solve together.”
The city also plans to introduce a number of other measures, such as expanded psychological services, green spaces, nutritional meal planning for middle-aged and elderly people, as well as a dedicated “to identify isolated residents seeking help.” Search System”.
There will also be activities to encourage people to venture outside and connect with others. These include sports, gardening, book clubs and more, CNN reports.
According to the latest data from South Korea’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of “lonely deaths” reached 3,661 last year, significantly higher than 3,559 in 2022 and 3,378 in 2021.
However, part of that increase may be due to the broader definition of “lonely death” by the concerned ministry. To qualify as an ‘alone death’, previously the body had to be found only after a certain time, but now the term applies to any person who lives in social isolation, away from family and relatives and Dies by suicide or illness.
South Korea’s demographic crisis may be another factor behind this increase. The decline in birth rates and aging population shows that the country has consistently seen more deaths than births in recent years. The total death rate, including “lonely deaths”, is rising in South Korea. Furthermore, men in their 50s and 60s made up more than half of the total group.
