Even if You Live Alone to Learn or Earn Money... Don't Stay 'Home Alone'

Ministry of Gender Equality and Family's Pilot Project on Social Networks for Single-Person Households
Contributing to Psychological Stability and Self-Esteem Recovery
Expanding Life-Cycle Programs for Independent Children in Care Facilities and Dormitory-Resident Youth

Incheon Jung-gu Family Center is conducting a calligraphy program as part of the 'Social Network Formation Support Pilot Project' targeting single-person households.

#Ms. Jang Sa-young (pseudonym), a woman in her 20s, returned to daily life after receiving chemotherapy for leukemia. However, due to repeated treatments and changes in her appearance from chemotherapy, she lost confidence and mostly stayed at home. Then, by participating in the 'Women Living Alone Program' at the Family Center, she made new acquaintances. They gave each other nicknames and shared various stories about hobbies, food, dreams, and more. While living alone, she began to draw up life plans, including difficulties she felt and plans for her life and future, gradually changing her approach to life. Ms. Jang said, "Battling cancer changed my appearance and made me isolate myself, but through the living alone program, I was able to regain psychological stability and self-esteem."

#Ms. Lee Jung-yeon (pseudonym), a woman in her 70s from North Korea, dreams anew after participating in the elderly living alone program at the Family Center. She experienced cultural activities enjoyed by the 10-20 generation, such as slime play, eating Buldak-bokkeum-myeon (spicy chicken noodles), and picnics with the teachers at the Family Center, feeling as if she had returned to her childhood. Ms. Lee said, "By achieving things I couldn't do before, I have developed a dream to properly open the second chapter of my life."

Customized policies for single-person households, which account for more than 3 out of 10 households, are being strengthened. The proportion of single-person households rapidly increased from 23.9% in 2010 to 33.4% last year among all households. The composition factors are diverse, ranging from young urban generations who became single-person households due to studies or work to middle-aged and older single-person households who experienced divorce or bereavement. The causes of single-person households are gradually diversifying, and their scale is expanding.

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has promoted a social network support project for single-person households this year in Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu, and other cities. In 10 city and provincial Family Centers, projects reflecting regional characteristics and life cycle characteristics of single-person households were carried out for groups such as ▲divorced or bereaved single-person households ▲youth single parents or children leaving protective facilities ▲workers relocating for jobs ▲vulnerable single-person households. Researcher Cho Sung-eun of the Korea Institute for Healthy Family explained, "When situations arise that single-person households find difficult to resolve on their own, there is a high demand for discovering and managing cases of individuals living in vulnerable environments without family, as well as addressing care gaps."

After the pilot project, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family plans to develop and operate specialized services tailored to life cycle, gender, economic conditions, and regional proportions and policy demands of single-person households. Programs for children who have become independent from protective facilities, divorced single-person households, and young single-person households living in university dormitories are expected to expand. Life cycle-based single-person household programs will also be expanded. Examples include independent living preparation education and social network platforms for young single-person households; education for middle-aged and older adults on divorce and standing alone; daily life maintenance education such as dietary and health management for middle-aged male single-person households; elderly preparation education and customized care services for solitary elderly. Starting next year, ‘emergency care’ for single-person households will also be expanded, providing hospital accompaniment and short-term housekeeping and nursing support during crisis situations.

Researcher Yoo Jung-kyun of the Gyeonggi Research Institute emphasized the need for a dual strategy of basic support and convenience enhancement to compensate for the vulnerabilities of single-person households. Researcher Yoo explained, "Since the proportion of women and elderly is high among single-person households, improving residential environments for safety and security and expanding security systems are important. For the youth, policies that enhance housing and daily convenience are needed, while for the elderly, ensuring economic foundation and basic living should be prioritized."

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