Korea ramps up support for marginalized youth
gettyimagesbankConcerns grow as suspects in recent crimes believed to have lived in seclusionBy Jun Ji-hyeThe government unveiled a set of new welfare policies on Tuesday that aim to reach out to young people who are living in social isolation.Socially isolated people are those who do not have meaningful interactions with others, except family, for more than six months, the Ministry of Health and Welfare said. According to the report written by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in May, the number of socially isolated young people was 5 percent in 2021. When the ratio is applied to the youth population of 10.8 million in that year, the population of isolated young people is estimated to be at 538,000.The welfare ministry said it has prepared various channels, such as telephone and text messages, through which isolated youth can ask for help, along with psychological consultation and other programs, such as cooking classes, to help them form relationships with others. Cohousing programs will also be offered that will enable isolated youth to live with others who face si
