I cover a wide range of stories about Korean society — one of the most dynamic places in the world. To me, journalism means being on the ground, uncovering untold stories and amplifying marginalized voices, especially in an era when AI is reshaping the media landscape. That’s why I’m always here to listen. Tips and stories are welcome — feel free to reach out via email. Before becoming a journalist, I traveled through 24 countries over 702 days, served two years as a military police officer in the Republic of Korea Air Force and later studied filmmaking at the Korea National University of Arts.
In Korea, 14% of people live in cognitive gray zone
People with borderline intellectual functioning and volunteers take part in a toy-based activity at the Borderline Intellectual Functioning Center for Continuing Education Seoul in Jung District, Oct. 16, 2025. Korea Times photo by Park Ung
By Park Ung
Defined by IQ range of 70 to 84, hidden population falls through the safety net
When Jonathan — a Korean who asked to be identified by his English name — turned 20 years old four years ago, his parents took him to Seoul National University Hospital, where tests showed his IQ was around 70, far below the typical adult average of about 100.
The diagnosis arrived less as a clinical data point than as a life-altering sentence.
“I think my parents knew about my condition since elementary school but didn’t tell me until they took me to a clinic when I was 20,” Jonathan told The Korea Times. “Learning I had borderline intellectual functioning shattered me. I blamed myself, wondering if that was all I would ever amount to.”
Jonathan is one of an estimated 6.95 million people in Korea believed to have borderline intellectual functioning. The figure is large because, statistically, about 13.59 percent of the population falls within the IQ range used for such assessments.
The result is a gray zone of cognitive precarity — a "borderline" population estimated to comprise nearly 14 percent of the general public. These individuals exist in a policy vacuum, functioning at a level that disqualifies them from the state’s social safety nets yet leaves them ill-equipped for the hypercompetitive demands of modern labor and education.
The condition is defined as scoring between 70 and 79 on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, a widely used IQ test, but clinicians often allow a margin of 5 points to account for factors such as testing-day conditions, effectively placing the range at about 70 to 84.
The range is not low enough to qualify as an intellectual disability, generally defined as an IQ of 70 or below, meaning individuals are not classified as having a disability. However, they often struggle in everyday life and require additional support.
People in this borderline range vary widely in their abilities, said Kim Sung-a, head of the Borderline Intellectual Functioning Center for Continuing Education Seoul.
“Some people may never realize they have borderline intellectual functioning, but others face daily challenges and turn to our center,” Kim said.
Established in 2022 as the nation’s first institution of its kind, the center supports people with borderline conditions to build independent lives through programs such as job preparation. As of January, it had 883 registered users.
The center also helped Jonathan, who has attended since 2022, pursue a new goal: becoming a barista.
“When I worked at a café, I arrived early to prepare but made too many mistakes and was let go after a week,” Jonathan said. “It made me question whether I was capable, no matter how hard I tried.”
While training in the center’s barista program, Jonathan found work in 2024 at Freewhale, a Seoul café that employs people with borderline conditions.
There, in a supportive environment that accommodates slower learning, Jonathan said he grew into one of the café’s top baristas and now dreams of opening his own café.
Seo Ji-hyun, a 24-year-old with borderline intellectual functioning, poses at the Borderline Intellectual Functioning Center for Continuing Education Seoul in Jung District, Oct. 16, 2025. Korea Times photo by Park Ung
Another person who found a new direction at the center is Seo Ji-hyun, 24, who, unlike Jonathan, said learning she had borderline intellectual functioning brought relief rather than shock.
“I knew I was slower than others but didn’t know why,” Seo said. “After the diagnosis, I finally understood, and that clarity made a difference.”
Since joining the center last year, Seo has set her sights on becoming a content creator, hoping to produce content about people like herself.
“Many people misunderstand borderline intelligence as simply being slow,” Seo said. “I hope more accurate information becomes more widely known.”
Kim said national legislation is urgently needed to support people with borderline conditions, noting that while some district-level ordinances exist in Seoul and other local governments, there is no comprehensive nationwide framework.
“Many of them can live like others with proper support,” Kim said. “Without it, they risk being left in blind spots, where their functioning can decline over time and, in some cases, fall to the level of intellectual disability.”
Kim added that employment is the top priority for young people with borderline conditions and their parents.
“Education means little without jobs,” Kim said, calling for more public sector positions and expanded support for private-sector employment.
Seo Young-chul, CEO of Freewhale, echoed Kim’s view, saying that the key is patience.
“Giving them time and space to process and respond,” Seo said. “With consistent guidance and encouragement, they gain confidence and can live full, independent lives.”