Sharing a home, sharing the burden of South Korea’s social isolationーNHK WORLD-JAPAN NEWS
japan may have coined the term hiki komoi to describe social hermits but it’s a growing problem in other countries too A South Korean government survey found about 5% of that country’s young people are withdrawing from society One man who’s been through it is now hoping to bring others out of their shells NHK World’s Kayong reports 31-year-old Yusen Yu runs what looks like an ordinary sharehouse with six people living under one roof But these tenants all have one thing in common They’re all trying to reconnect with society after going through severe social isolation They each had their own reasons to hide After my parents divorced I grew up as a lonely child and started to pull away from other people After finishing military service and university I still couldn’t find a job I felt different from my friends But isolation also fosters loneliness anxiety and shame The hope is that by coming together they can form a community that understands what they’re going through It’s important to speak honestly about one’s feelings Here even saying what you don’t like will help build communication skills You is sure it will work because it saved him He spent 5 years alone unable to leave his home South Korean society does not acknowledge social isolation as a widespread issue So he said he didn’t know how to change and didn’t know other people were going through the same thing Then he learned about a Japanese support group active in South Korea I didn’t think that kind of thing existed here When I heard that a Japanese organization was offering help I decided to reach out Okusa Minoru has long tried to tackle the problem He started the sharehouse initiative in South Korea a few years ago Even if you study hard in South Korea’s intense achievement focused culture opportunities can be limited Eventually people burn out You spent two years at Okusa’s sharehouse After seeing the benefits firsthand he hopes to use that experience to help others In Japan there are established support systems in place South Korea can look towards Japan as a pioneer Our society lacks places where people can even ask for help My dream is to create a society where that kind of support is available But you says more still needs to be done There’s not enough resources to help everyone He’s already had to turn away many hoping to reconnect with society But he says he’ll keep trying to reach those he can One lonely person at a time Kang Naang NHK World Soul
Modern social hermits, or “hikikomori,” are a growing phenomenon in South Korea. A recent government survey found 5 percent of its youth are withdrawing from society. One man is taking inspiration from a Japanese approach. NHK World’s Kang Na-young reports. #japan #southkorea #children #education #diversity
More stories on South Korea: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/tags/39/
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