Lonely hurt!One -third of the one -third of the family lives alone. Does South Korea need to set up a "lonely minister"?

According to a report from the South Korean Department of Statistics, more than one -third of the families in South Korea live alone. In the 4 years from 2016 to 2020, South Korean single families increased by approximately 1.25 million. In addition, the proportion of people who feel lonely is also rising.

Studies have shown that the health risks facing lonely people may be greater, and the problem of social isolation and loneliness not only plagues South Korea. In recent years, Britain and Japan have solved this issue through the implementation of national plans, which has attracted international attention. Can South Korea follow the above -mentioned two countries to appoint the "Lonely Minister"? Previous polls showed that most people were not interested in this proposal. However, many politicians said that the South Korean government should be more actively participating in solving the problem of social loneliness.

↑ Since 2015, the proportion of single families in South Korea has continued to rise

Single families have increased year in succession

South Korea's loneliness is constantly prominent

According to data from the South Korean Department of Statistics in 2021, the total number of families composed of a single member in 2020 was 6.64 million, which was higher than 6.15 million a year ago, which pushed the proportion of single families to a record high of 31.7%. It is said that the South Korean Department of Statistics had previously predicted that single families reaching 6.64 million households may need to wait until 2023. Statistics also stated that since 2015, due to factors such as young people's marriage delay and social fast aging, the proportion of single families in South Korea has continued to rise.

The report pointed out that in addition to more people live alone, the new crown epidemic seemed to increase the social isolation of Koreans. According to a joint investigation by South Korea last year, 45.9%of the respondents said that they felt "more lonely" compared to before the epidemic. Men's sense of loneliness rose from 19.6%in 2019 to 21.2%in 2021, and women's loneliness increased from 21.5%to 23.4%.

It is reported that these statistics and research show that Koreans are becoming more and more lonely. Other studies from all over the world show that loneliness may be practical to physical health. For example, a study statement of the American Heart Association last month showed that social isolation and loneliness are related to the increase in the risk of the general individual's heart health and the worsening brain health. The risk of stroke increased by 32%. A previous study in the UK also showed that social isolation itself increased the risk of death by 29%, and loneliness increased it by 26%, and residue would increase by 32%.

↑ The South Korean Department of Statistics has predicted that the number of single families in the country will increase to 6.64 million households until 2023, but it is actually 3 years earlier

Establish "Lonely Minister"?

The survey shows: 46%of the Korean people do not agree

The sense of isolation and loneliness is becoming one of the serious problems in modern society, and this problem not only plagues South Korea. In recent years, the United Kingdom and Japan and other countries have attracted international attention through the implementation of national plans to solve the problem of loneliness.

In 2018, then British Prime Minister Trysa May set up a ministerial leadership to solve the problem of loneliness in the country. Although it is usually called "Lonely Minister", it is not a separate ministerial office, but is responsible for ministerial officials responsible for culture and sports. In 2021, the then Prime Minister Sakamoto, the then Prime Minister of Japan, appointed Cabinet member Sakamoto Sakamoto as the first "lonely minister" in Japan, and was committed to reducing loneliness and response to suicide related to this.

With more and more single families and people who feel lonely in South Korea, should the government government appoint a "lonely minister" like these countries? As far as the public's reaction, South Korea does not seem to show the strong willingness to interfere with the government to interfere with individuals. South Korea's 2018 survey shows that 46%of them do not agree with the establishment of this official position, while 40%of them agree.

Despite the lack of support for the proposal, in recent years, it has shown signs that the South Korean government may participate more in solving the problem of social isolation and loneliness. Some Korean members said that it is necessary to start from national measures to relieve social loneliness. Some officials said that the South Korean government is necessary to carry out various cultural activities at the community level at the same time and start national projects to solve this social problem.

Red Star News reporter Ding Wen

Edit Yu Dongmei Guozhuang

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