The issue of isolated youth in South Korea is gaining attention and being highlighted as a social problem. According to the '2022 Seoul City Survey on Isolated/Hikikomori Youth' conducted by the Seoul, it is estimated that about 3.3% of young people living in Seoul, or between 93,000 and 96,000 individuals, are in a state of isolation. The purpose of this study is to explore in-depth the isolation and recovery experiences of isolated young adults. To do so, in-depth interviews were conducted with seven participants who experienced isolation in young adulthood and their experiences of isolation and recovery were analyzed through qualitative research. The analysis resulted in 9 overarching categories and 19 subcategories centered on three themes of isolation and recovery experiences: the onset of isolation, the process of isolation, and the process of recovery. Based on the key findings, recommendations were made to support young people's recovery from isolation. These included the need for long-term, systematic service provision, awareness raising, and 'safe spaces' for isolated youth.
Choi et al. (Mon,) studied this question.