Exploring Lonely Death as Social Death and Life-Stage Risk Factors

This Study redefines lonely death not as the result of individual failure or maladjustment, but as a form of ‘social death’ caused by care deficits that arise within changing social structures-namely, the absence of a safety net necessary for a dignified life. To this end, the study examines the re-conceptualization of lonely death and identified diverse factors that generate life-course risks of lonely death in Korea society based on a literature review of related keywords. The study confirmed that lonely death is not a one-time event triggered by a single cause such as illness or economic poverty; rather, it is the cumulative result of various life vulnerabilities interacting within personal, social, and institutional contexts across a person’s lifespan. This study holds significance by moving beyond existing discussions centered on single-person households to newly identify potential risk groups, such as those experiencing emotional isolation within multi-person households. Moreover, it is also significant in that it integrates previously fragmented lines of research into a comprehensive analytical framework based on a life course perspective.