[Column] The 'Out-of-School Youth' More Lonely Due to Indifference

The estimated number of out-of-school youth in South Korea is about 146,000. In February this year, the government announced in the ‘2024 Social Policy Direction’ that it would begin building statistics on out-of-school youth.

While preparing the feature article ‘Let’s Live Backwards,’ we requested data and filed information disclosure requests to secure data, but the response we received was ‘No Information Available.’ Although they said they just started building statistics, it means they have not even begun since that announcement. Out-of-school youth remain subjects of social indifference.

Every year, about 50,000 students leave school. According to the ‘Teenage Youth Mental Health Survey,’ the rate of dropping out due to psychological and mental issues was 23% in 2021, about three times higher than in 2015. Friend relationships, family conflicts, and entrance exam and academic stress are the main causes. This is closely linked to the reality where excessive materialism and hierarchy in our society are directly transferred to youth.

Among children, comparisons about parents’ annual income, overseas travel, and ownership of foreign cars are almost routine. Adolescence is a period when a sense of belonging to peer groups is important. Evaluations from others inevitably feel sensitive, and feelings of alienation lead to stress.

Leaving school does not solve the problem. Out-of-school youth are labeled as ‘problem children.’ A student from Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do shared, “I worked part-time jobs where I was unfairly treated, such as not being paid properly and being verbally abused.”

Out-of-school youth are vulnerable to social systems such as networks, institutions, and norms. They naturally grow distant from their former school friends. In society, they suffer from stigma and alienation. Three out of ten out-of-school youth are exposed to risks of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This is two to three times higher than the rate among in-school youth. To reduce the teenage suicide rate, it is essential to focus on the issues of out-of-school youth.

The most important factor in seeking solutions is social connection and intervention. There is a support system for youth exhausted by difficult lives. It is the 222 Dream Dream Centers nationwide. These are support facilities for out-of-school youth. Although 40,000 people use these facilities annually, many children still remain outside the social interest and protection net. More infrastructure is needed, and efforts must be made to promote awareness.

To ensure they are no longer lonely, the government’s efforts to reduce blind spots in protection must come first.

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