How AI, animals can help young people out of social isolation

A display of photo cards promoting the “Lonely-Free Seoul” campaign is seen at a convenience store in Seoul, Tuesday. Newsis

The Seoul local government is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and animals to help socially isolated young people take their first steps back into everyday life.

The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled Tuesday a new plan that combines a 24-hour AI mental health chatbot with an animal-assisted program at city shelters, as part of a larger initiative to prevent youth from falling into prolonged social withdrawal.

Over the next five years, the city government plans to invest 109 billion won ($74 million) to support these young people. A survey conducted last year found that among Seoul residents aged 19 to 39, an estimated 54,000, or 2 percent, are “withdrawn youth” cut off from society, while roughly 194,000 (7.1 percent) experience a strong sense of social isolation.

At the center of its digital strategy is “Maeum-e,” an AI-based counseling chatbot launched in February. The service is available on the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center website even without logging in, and is designed to offer an anonymous, low‑barrier space where young people can talk about their feelings or anything at any time of the day.

The current version of chatbot mainly provides information and basic emotional support. But the goal for this year is more ambitious: Using the system as an early warning and triage tool for high‑risk cases.

“For example, if someone says, ‘I am exhausted, I broke up with my girlfriend, I want to walk alone on a bridge.’ That’s not where the conversation should end,” Kim Young-in, director at the city’s mental health policy division, told The Korea Times. “We are preparing a system so that, when such warning signs appear, it doesn’t terminate in the AI, but a human counselor can quickly detect it and connect directly with the person.”

The city government already operates a crisis hotline (1577-0199) and the chatbot is being trained on patterns and scenarios from that service.

Although still in its early stages, the number of users has grown rapidly. Kim said only about 50 people used the service in its first month. By March, the figure had climbed to roughly 560. City officials expect it to continue increasing into the thousands with promotion expansion and further integration with existing loneliness and isolation hotlines.

Participants attend an animal training program at the Seoul Animal Welfare Support Center in Mapo District, Seoul, in this 2022 file photo. Korea Times photo by Choi Da-won

While AI handles the digital frontline, a very different kind of intervention is now unfolding offline at the city’s animal welfare centers.

Under a program called “Maeum Nanul-gae” (a Korean wordplay meaning “share your heart, dog”), socially isolated people are invited to work with rescued animals — many of them abused, abandoned or neglected — at city-run shelters.

“What we have found is that many such people find it very hard to look other people in the eye or start a conversation _ but they can open their hearts more easily to animals,” said Bae Jin-sun, director at the city’s animal protection division. “Dogs don’t hold prejudices. They look at you without judgment.”

Bae said many of these rescued animals carry emotional wounds, too. “They need love and care, and they need to relearn healthy interactions with humans. When an isolated young person bathes them, walks them, or helps with their socialization, there is a two‑way healing process,” she added.

Last year, the city government ran the program on a pilot basis at the Dongdaemun Animal Welfare Support Center, and the response far exceeded expectations, according to officials. This year, it is expanding to a full-fledged program, with the addition of a second shelter in Mapo District. If results remain positive, more centers could follow.

Beyond emotional recovery, officials intend to use the program as a bridge to employment. After the initial phase focused on basic care, participants can move into training related to animal jobs such as pet sitting, animal nursing or dog grooming.

“For someone who has been isolated, the idea of training or work can feel overwhelming,” Bae said. “We hope this will help them return to society with a job.”