"Why Are My Child's Grades Like This?" Surge in Overprotected, Isolated, and Reclusive University Students [University Students in Crisis] ⑧

Interview with Joohee Kim, Director of the Seoul Youth Resilience Center
Isolation and Withdrawal Are Warning Signs: 7 Out of 10 Contemplate Suicide
Unrelated to Academic Background or Income
Recent Increase in Overprotected Cases by Parent

Being emotionally and physically isolated, or rarely leaving one's home and spending most of the time indoors, can be seen as a warning sign that increases the risk of suicide. According to data released by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 75.4% of isolated and reclusive young people responded that they had thought about suicide. This is a significantly higher rate compared to the 2.3% of all young people who have had suicidal thoughts. In addition, 26.7% of isolated and reclusive youth reported that they had actually attempted suicide.

Joohee Kim, Director of the Seoul Youth Restart Center, the nation's first dedicated support institution for isolated and reclusive youth, which opened in 2024, met with The Asia Business Daily on May 6. Director Kim said, "The tendency toward isolation and reclusion can occur regardless of academic background or parents' income. There are young people who enter university without learning how to resolve conflicts on their own during adolescence, and they struggle with interpersonal relationships and fail to adapt."

Joohee Kim, Director of the Seoul Youth Restart Center, is being interviewed by The Asia Business Daily at the office in Jongno-gu, Seoul. Director Kim said, "It takes at least two to three years for isolated and reclusive youth to reintegrate into society. It becomes possible when someone consistently supports them, guiding them with messages like 'It's okay,' 'You can fail,' and 'Let's try once more.' " Photo by Jo Yongjun

With the number of isolated and reclusive youth nationwide estimated to reach up to 540,000, the number of young people (aged 19–39) who applied for the center’s programs last year was 5,596. Among them, university students accounted for 11.1% (598 people). The causes of isolation and reclusive tendencies among university students include maladjustment to campus life, frustration and failure from experiences such as job competition, emotional vulnerability due to excessive competition, and overprotective parenting.

In particular, universities have seen a sharp increase in overprotected, isolated, and reclusive students. A staff member at University A said, "Parents sometimes call to ask about the course registration process on behalf of their children, or say things like, 'My child is having a conflict with a teammate on a group assignment; please switch their team.'" A professor at University B said, "I even received a call from parents of a student who frequently missed classes and did not take exams properly, asking, 'Why are my child's grades like this?'" One student struggling with campus life and relationships confided that they are unsure where to look during conversations with others or where to place their hands. Even after graduation, similar issues often recur in the workplace, causing difficulties in fully connecting with society and leading to prolonged periods of isolation and reclusion.

One day in April, on the way home from work, all passengers on the Seoul subway are sitting and looking at their phones. Photo by Heo Younghan

Regarding this, Director Kim said, "While it cannot be definitively stated that isolation and reclusion directly lead to suicide, regardless of one's economic situation, being in an environment without support or having low self-efficacy can result in decreased self-esteem and despair, which may lead to suicidal thoughts." She added, "To reduce the number of isolated and reclusive university students, preventive measures must begin during adolescence, and parental education programs should also be expanded. Most importantly, young people need to develop the ability to resolve conflicts on their own and communicate appropriately with others through conversation."

At the center, a self-growth project is producing positive results, in which isolated and reclusive youth set their own goals while a counselor acts as a guide. Instead of grand objectives, participants begin with small goals suited to their psychological condition and circumstances—for example, "waking up at 9 a.m.," "contacting three friends per week," or "attending certification classes regularly." Counselors meet regularly with participants to check progress and provide encouragement. Director Kim said, "Last year, we ran the program for 70 young people over four months, and it led to actual employment and other positive outcomes. This year, we plan to develop a manual that can be used by other local governments through a full-scale effectiveness study." She also stated, "For youth who find face-to-face activities burdensome, we will expand the 'Online Restart Center' program in the second half of this year, offering online routine challenge programs and small group activities."

※ If you are struggling with difficult feelings such as depression, or if you have a family member or acquaintance facing such challenges, you can receive 24-hour counseling from specialists through the suicide prevention hotline ☎ 109 or the suicide prevention SNS counseling service 'Madeleine.'

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