Bitter End of Imitating Japan... Youths Urging for Korean-Style Policies [Youth Isolation 24 Hours]

"I want to earn money on my own and live independently. I want to support my parents comfortably without burdening them." - A pseudonymous 20s reclusive youth 'Shingil'

"Even during my over 10 years of reclusion, I have consistently done short-term part-time jobs such as hall serving and kitchen assistance." - A pseudonymous 30s woman 'Kkyu'

Reclusive and isolated youth in Korea usually stay hidden but step outside to earn money. This is quite different from Japan's 'Hikikomori,' often seen as the archetype of reclusive loners. In Japan, most Hikikomori cut off from social and economic activities and live in seclusion for decades. It has become a social issue that 80-year-old parents support their 50-year-old reclusive children. Korean reclusive youth who have experienced various government policies appeal for Korea-specific tailored measures rather than policies copied from the UK, Japan, or other countries.

During the [Youth Isolation 24 Hours] coverage, Asia Economy held a roundtable discussion on March 22 at 'Dudeojip,' a shelter for isolated and reclusive youth located in Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul, with five reclusive youths, hearing vivid voices from the field. The names of the youths participating in the roundtable are pseudonyms used by Dudeojip.

A roundtable held by the nonprofit organization Seeds, a space for reclusive youth. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

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All participants in the roundtable have experience with short-term jobs such as working at logistics centers. They said they go out to earn money themselves when they cannot pay monthly rent during their reclusion or cannot ask their parents for help. A 20s reclusive youth '3352' said, "Before coming to Dudeojip, I worked as a telemarketer at a call center," and added, "After that, I visited community centers to check announcements and occasionally worked by applying for support projects like public work programs as they became available."

When told, "It seems everyone here has a strong will to return to society," all participants nodded. Especially, they showed a strong desire for self-development and employment. Shingil is working on self-realization alongside government job programs. Since three years ago, he has been writing web novels and switched to a paid subscription model from January, earning 60,000 KRW by March.

A 20s male 'Hansho' is running a YouTube channel introducing various museums, leveraging his hobby of museum visits. His primary goal is also employment. 3352 said, "Ultimately, even if I receive support, it is all for independence. I believe it is right to find my own path."

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare's first-ever survey on isolated and reclusive youth conducted last year, 80.8% of isolated and reclusive youth responded that they want to escape their current situation. The most needed policy was 'economic support (88.7%)', followed by 'employment and work experience support (82.2%)'. This indicates a strong will not only to seek jobs but also to engage in economic activities. This is why policies tailored to Korea's unique characteristics must be developed.

A roundtable held by the nonprofit organization Seeds, a space for reclusive youth. Photo by Jo Yongjun jun21@

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The isolated and reclusive youth participating in the roundtable appealed that policies focusing first on jobs for isolated and reclusive youth are necessary. Repeated job failures during the job search process trigger isolation, and maladaptation during work after employment leads to re-isolation. Above all, they emphasized the need for a ladder role to help youth settle stably in society.

Korea has short-term job programs such as the national employment system and public work projects available to everyone, but there is no employment system targeting isolated and reclusive youth. Hansho, who graduated in social welfare, said, "I worked at a company making phone accessories. However, when the contract ended, I couldn't build on my experience, and my job ended there," adding, "There needs to be a way to continue building experience and ultimately connect to employment."

Introduction to the social enterprise 'An Museoun Hoesa' supporting reclusive and isolated youth. (Photo by An Museoun Hoesa website)

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Especially, isolated and reclusive youth agreed on the need for policies or institutions that help them adapt to jobs as much as the jobs themselves. The social enterprise 'Not a Scary Company,' which supports social adaptation of isolated and reclusive youth, is a representative example. It assigns tasks similar to those in general companies, such as office assistance, video editing, and marketing, to help youth adapt. Instead of pressuring or ordering them to work faster, it waits for them in a horizontal atmosphere. This helps them overcome fear of social life.

Shingil said, "I hope platforms similar to Not a Scary Company increase," and appealed, "The most necessary thing is a safety net before actual employment that reduces fear of mistakes made during adaptation."

There was also a call for a platform that consolidates information individually sent by the government or local governments. Since most isolated and reclusive youth do not go out much, they find all information online. However, websites like 'Bokjiro,' where job postings are uploaded, are not updated regularly, causing inconvenience. The reason a reclusive youth who was once a Hikikomori partnered with the Youth Foundation to create the self-managed website 'Somsatang' to share related information is here.

Professor Choi Young-jun of the Department of Public Administration at Yonsei University (left) and Professor Kim Hye-won of the Department of Youth Culture and Psychological Counseling at Hoseo University.

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