Imagine spending months—or even years—trapped in your room, scrolling through screens as the world moves on without you. This is the reality for thousands of young people in South Korea struggling with hikikomori, a term borrowed from Japan’s 1990s-era social crisis. Now, local governments are stepping up with creative solutions to help them reconnect. 💡
From cash allowances to free job training programs, cities like Seoul and Busan are rolling out incentives to coax isolated youth out of isolation. 'We want to show them they’re not alone,' says Park Ji-hoon, a social worker in Seoul. The initiatives mirror Japan’s earlier efforts but add a K-twist: K-pop dance workshops and AI-powered mentorship apps are part of the mix. 🎶
Experts say South Korea’s hyper-competitive education system and pandemic-era loneliness turbocharged the trend. 'It’s like living in a fog,' shares 24-year-old Min-jae, who recently joined a government-funded coding bootcamp. 'But small steps can light the way.' 🌱
