Seoul's 24/7 Helpline Tackles Loneliness Crisis

At 12:50 AM on April 18, a call came in from a man in his 50s, identified as A, who was struggling with feelings of despair. With a bottle of pesticide by his side, he reached out for help, expressing his loneliness and questioning the purpose of his life. A former restaurant owner, A had accumulated debt after his business failed and had gone through a divorce. He felt ashamed to ask his elderly mother for money due to his panic disorder, which made social interactions difficult.

He called '외로움안녕 120' (Goodbye Loneliness 120), a 24-hour helpline established by the Seoul city government to tackle issues of loneliness. The social worker who answered reassured him, saying, "You've been through a lot. You are a valuable person, and you should treat yourself that way." A shared his experiences of family conflicts and business struggles during the hour-long conversation, ultimately expressing gratitude and a desire to be a better father to his son.

As of May 8, the Seoul Welfare Foundation reported that the 'Goodbye Loneliness 120' service had received 3,088 calls since its launch in April, averaging over 80 consultations per day. This figure surpassed the initial goal of 3,000 calls by 2025 within just a month and a half. Anyone feeling lonely can call 120 to speak with a counselor, with a team of 14 professional psychologists and social workers available. For those who prefer not to speak on the phone, consultations via KakaoTalk are also offered.

The majority of callers were middle-aged individuals aged 40 to 64, accounting for 59% of the total. Young adults aged 20 to 39 made up 32%, while seniors over 65 represented 8%. A representative from the center noted that many middle-aged callers reported feelings of loneliness stemming from business failures or divorces, leading to a sense of isolation after losing their social networks.

Young adults often reach out to discuss issues related to relationships, family dynamics, or job searches. One woman in her 20s, identified as B, shared that after her mother passed away, she found it hard to express her grief to those around her, leading to strained relationships. She called the helpline to find a safe space to share her feelings.

The younger demographic, particularly those in their 20s and 30s, often prefer chat consultations over phone calls. According to the foundation, 9.4% of the total consultations (290 calls) were conducted via chat, with most being from young people.

A 2022 survey by the Seoul Institute revealed that 65% of middle-aged single-person households reported feeling lonely, often facing economic hardships as well. Last year, the Seoul Financial Welfare Counseling Center reported that 70% of bankruptcy applicants were middle-aged men living alone.

Lee Soo-jin, the head of the Isolation Prevention Center, stated, "The fact that we received over 3,000 calls in just one month shows that citizens are in need of a place to talk about their loneliness."