Over half of Seoul's solo dwellers lack emergency contacts

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A recent survey found that over half of Seoul residents who live alone have nobody to help them with daily tasks like household chores or caregiving, highlighting the increasing need for support tailored to this demographic group.

The survey, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government between March and April, polled 1,835 residents aged 19 to 69 living alone. It found that 56.6 percent of respondents said they had no one to turn to when they needed assistance with household duties or caregiving. The results also showed that 53.2 percent had no one to reach out to if they were sick and needed help with chores.

The report, published by the Seoul Foundation of Women & Family, highlights the unique challenges faced by those living alone, especially in middle age. The findings indicate that middle-aged men, 40-69 years old, are particularly vulnerable, with the lowest reported levels of support across various situations, including emergencies, illness and emotional distress.

“Younger single-person households often still have access to parental support,” the report stated, “but middle-aged individuals find it increasingly difficult to rely on such help.”

When asked how they cope with the inconveniences of living alone, younger respondents were more likely to receive help from parents. In contrast, only 10.9 percent of middle-aged women and 7.1 percent of middle-aged men reported doing the same. Instead, many resorted to online searches to solve problems or took no specific action at all.

The survey also assessed interpersonal relationship satisfaction among single-person households, with overall satisfaction averaging 3.23 out of 5. Middle-aged men again reported the lowest satisfaction levels, scoring an average of 3.0, while younger men were the most satisfied, scoring 3.54.

Despite the challenges, a significant majority of respondents expressed a desire to continue living alone. Overall, 57.1 percent said they would like to maintain their single-person household status, with this preference being more pronounced among middle-aged women (66.7 percent) and least common among younger men (42.1 percent).