Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
INTERVIEW Wounded healer — how socially withdrawn man turned isolation into empowerment
You Seung-kyu, founder of Not Scary Company for socially withdrawn individuals, poses in his office in Seoul, Feb. 26. Courtesy of You Seung-kyu
By Yi Whan-woo
You Seung-kyu lives up to the psychological definition of a “wounded healer” — someone who uses their own pain as a bridge to understand and heal others.
Once a socially withdrawn man who spent nearly five years barely leaving his room in his 20s, You has turned his past into a powerful foundation for business, social advocacy and peer-based job creation.
“I found out that even your unwanted, shameful past of social withdrawal can become a qualification,” You told The Korea Times in a recent phone interview.
Now in his early 30s, You traces his turning point to a sharehouse operated by the Korean branch of a Japanese nonprofit organization for hikikomori — a Japanese term for recluses or shut-ins.
He recalled that joining the program helped him slowly re-enter society and relearn the rhythms of daily life.
“And over time, I not only adapted but also began studying how the organization functioned,” he added, benchmarking the business model to launch his own company in 2022.
You Seung-kyu, back row second from right, poses with members who completed a sharehouse program run by Not Scary Company in Seoul in this February 2022 photo. Courtesy of You Seung-kyu
Inside a sharehouse run by Not Scary Company in Seoul / Courtesy of You Seung-kyu
You's business, Not Scary Company, centers on two sharehouses in Seoul designed to help socially isolated young Koreans reconnect with the world they were scared of.
Residents live together for up to a year, many confronting basic tasks — like cooking, bathing or having conversations — for the first time in years.
The houses are staffed by four to five mentors, many of whom, like You, have lived through isolation themselves.
Many residents not only regain the skills to fully reintegrate into society but also develop the mental strength to support others currently in similar situations, You explained.
“If someone has been isolated for 10 years and receives proper training, they may be the best person to help someone who’s going through what they once did.”
His company has since expanded its reach, offering family counseling, educational content, and policy consultation to central and local governments.
These services are filling a growing void as more Korean youth face isolation amid a shortage of trained professionals.
According to You, about 540,000 Korean adults aged 19 to 39 are socially withdrawn or isolated, with the number rising to 660,000 when teenagers are included.
Under these circumstances, You explained that youth isolation often remains hidden, making it difficult for traditional professionals to fully understand or collect accurate data on the issue.
“There are no true experts yet in this field,” he said. “We therefore act as interpreters between systems and those who fall through them.”
You’s work has gained official recognition, with the Ministry of Health and Welfare awarding his team a commendation and consulting them on developing national guidelines for shared housing recovery models.
Inspired by his efforts, similar support centers are now emerging nationwide — from Seoul’s Gijigae Center, which assisted 1,800 people last year, to new centers in cities like Incheon and Ulsan.
You also advises on legal frameworks, as revised welfare policies begin to recognize socially withdrawn teens and young adults.
A promotional image of the so-called “Bear Paw Cafe,” designed for people with mental health challenges and those who need a gentle, accommodating work environment / Courtesy of You Seung-kyu
You goes further, pioneering alternative employment models for people with disadvantages in in-person contact — a population often left behind by conventional labor policies.
“In Korea, if you have such disadvantages, you’re often seen as unemployable,” he explained.
“But in Japan, there are models that allow people to contribute even with limited interaction. We want to bring that here, too,” he added, referring to Japan’s Kumanote Cafe and OriHime Cafe.
Meaning “Bear Paw Cafe,” Kumanote Cafe employs workers who wear bear paw-shaped gloves and serve coffee from behind a wall, allowing them to avoid eye contact and direct interaction.
A similar concept is now spreading in Korea.
OriHime Cafe is a restaurant where service staff are remotely operated robots called OriHime or OriHime-D, controlled by “pilots” who have physical disabilities or other conditions that prevent them from leaving home.
“Even people who avoid face-to-face contact can still feel useful and earn a living,” You said. “We need more of these models in Korea. While I do not intend to simply replicate these, we are actively working on developing a new, advanced Korean-style approach.”