Yeomyeong, Seoul City Council Member, "Need to Enact and Support Ordinance for Reclusive Loners"

Held a Discussion with Reclusive Youth Activists on the 22nd of Last Month and Discussed Support Ordinance Proposal

[Asia Economy Reporter Jongil Park] A forum on "The Current Status and Support Measures for Reclusive Youth in Seoul" was held on the 22nd of last month at the 2nd Conference Room of the Seoul Metropolitan Council Members' Hall, hosted by Yeomyeong, a member of the Seoul Metropolitan Council (Future United Party·Proportional Representation).

The forum, conducted as a no-audience YouTube live broadcast, featured a presentation by Yoon Cheol-kyung, director of the G’L Out-of-School Youth Research Institute. Panelists included Minoru Ookusa, head of the education team at K2 International Korea; Professor Hye-won Kim of Hoseo University; Young-gil Bae, representative of Kkumteo Home-type Alternative School; Sang-hee Joo, representative of the Korea Reclusive Youth Parents Association; Seung-gyu Yoo, a young participant with lived experience; and Seong-su Lim, a member of the Youth Participation Group of the Youth Policy Promotion Team at the Prime Minister’s Office, among various experts and activists.

Reclusive youth (Hikikomori) are defined as "people who have not left their room or home for more than six months and are unable to form intimate interpersonal relationships with anyone other than family members (even with family members themselves)."

In Japan, after the issue of socially isolated youth became prominent, the social costs caused by unemployed youth alongside basic human rights were brought into public discussion. Since 1988, under government support, both public and private sectors have actively continued projects to help Hikikomori achieve self-reliance.

A more detailed definition of reclusive youth includes one of the following five states maintained for six months or more, or experienced at some point: ▲rarely leaving the room ▲leaving the room but not the house ▲going out only very limitedly to nearby convenience stores or similar places for essential needs ▲going out only for solitary hobbies or minimal family gatherings ▲going out only for psychological healing or self-help meetings to overcome the reclusive state.

In Korea, since the phenomenon of reclusive youth has not been widely discussed, there are several issues: ▲no legal basis for support for the affected individuals ▲tendency to regard the condition as a family problem, placing them in welfare blind spots ▲parents of affected individuals lack awareness of the reclusive state and dismiss it as a mental issue of their children, worsening the situation ▲overall inadequacy of tailored support systems. Naturally, the current status is not properly identified.

In Seoul, the Youth Office, newly established in 2019, is the department responsible for reclusive youth. However, according to Yeomyeong’s office, there is no dedicated staff or related support policies, and the issue is treated as just one part of youth policy.

In Gwangju Metropolitan City, the "Gwangju Metropolitan City Reclusive Youth Support Ordinance" was passed in 2019. However, although family recovery program support is a crucial factor in helping reclusive youth escape isolation, related provisions are absent.

Council member Yeomyeong plans to enact a related ordinance that includes ▲a definition of reclusive youth ▲an obligation for the Mayor of Seoul to annually assess the status of reclusive youth in Seoul and establish a support system ▲provision of healing and recovery programs for families of affected individuals ▲training of professionals to assist the self-reliance of affected individuals.

Yeomyeong stated the purpose of the forum: “We are all thrown into society immediately after graduation. The world is becoming increasingly fragmented and individualized, and the rigid labor market has extended the preparation period for youth employment to nearly ten years. While most of us enjoy freedom from the whole, some wander in a long and dark tunnel. The social costs caused by youth not participating in economic activities cannot be ignored. Although late, we intend to establish related ordinances in Seoul and gradually build a support system.”

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