An era of loneliness we can no longer ignore

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An era of loneliness we can no longer ignore

Published: 17 Nov. 2025, 00:01

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Kim Ho-ki

The author is a professor emeritus of sociology at Yonsei University.

When the U.S. sociologist David Riesman brought “loneliness” into public debate in the mid-20th century, he argued that modern people had become anxious about losing their place within the organizations they belonged to. In “The Lonely Crowd” (1950), he described how this anxiety produced an “other-directed” character type, shaped less by individual conviction than by concern for how others think and behave. For Riesman, this was the social psychology behind the rise of the lonely crowd in contemporary society.

Older participants of Jongno District’s “Jongno Good Life Challenge” project chat during an event at Unhyeon Palace in Jongno District, central Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2024. A district official said the program was organized to help older residents who live alone build friendships, ease loneliness and enjoy a more fulfilling later life. [YONHAP]

In the 2020s, the economist Noreena Hertz renewed the discussion. In “The Lonely Century” (2020), she argued that neoliberal competition and digital forms of interaction have chipped away at face-to-face relationships and deepened loneliness. A society marked by isolation, she warned, reduces empathy, weakens communication and fuels hostility and resentment, conditions that strengthen extreme populism and destabilize democratic life.

These books come to mind following the government’s release of the 2025 Social Survey results on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, 38.2 percent of Koreans aged 13 and older said they feel lonely. Of these, 4.7 percent said they often feel lonely and 33.5 percent said they sometimes do. The older the respondent, the more likely they were to report loneliness. Among those 65 or older, the figure reached 43.4 percent. This is the first year loneliness has been included as a survey category.

A pedestrian walks next to a high fence intended to stop people from jumping on Mapo Bridge in Seoul on Feb. 27. [YONHAP]

The findings on social networks are also striking. Some 5.8 percent of respondents said they have no one to rely on for help in specific situations and no one with whom they regularly interact. Those who lack meaningful contact and also report feeling lonely are classified as an at-risk group. They make up an estimated 3.3 percent of the population aged 13 and older, or about 1.5 million people.

International data points to a similar trend. In June, the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection released a report titled “From Loneliness to Social Connection.” Surveys conducted between 2014 and 2023 found that 16.1 percent of women and 15.4 percent of men globally experience loneliness. The proportion is especially high among young people. Among respondents aged 13 to 17, 24.3 percent of girls and 17.2 percent of boys reported loneliness; among those aged 18 to 29, the figures were 16.8 percent and 17.4 percent. The commission interpreted this as evidence that younger generations may desire stronger social connections than they currently have.

These statistics together suggest that the 21st century has entered an era of loneliness. Sociologically, loneliness is both an individual and a social phenomenon. On the personal level, the poet Jeong Ho-seung captured a truth when he wrote, “We are human because we are lonely.” Humans are solitary beings by nature. As long as we seek to live as agents of freedom, solitude is a condition. In an age of hyper-connectivity shaped by online networks, recovering a sense of solitude may help us rediscover meaning in our own lives.

Yet loneliness is also the beginning of social isolation. Loneliness leads to disconnection, and disconnection leads to isolation. Social isolation increases anxiety and depression, threatening not only mental health but physical well-being. It also weakens the sense of belonging that sustains community life and undermines the social integration essential to a healthy society. This is why loneliness cannot be left unattended.

Choi Hong-il, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Youth Policy, speaks during a briefing at a forum on support measures for socially isolated and withdrawn adolescents at the Seoul Government Complex in Jongno District, central Seoul, on March 25. [YONHAP]

Countries such as Britain, Japan, Denmark and Sweden have attracted attention for their policy responses. Britain appointed a minister for loneliness in 2018 by assigning the role to its culture secretary and launched a five-year plan called “A Connected Society.” Japan appointed a minister for loneliness and isolation in 2021 and created a dedicated office within the Cabinet Secretariat. Denmark and Sweden have pursued “aging in place” policies that help older residents remain in their own homes while receiving community-based care. These programs strengthen social ties and sustain personal dignity, helping alleviate loneliness among aging populations.

Korea’s response must involve government, society and individuals. The government should learn from international cases and establish a comprehensive policy framework that addresses the different dimensions of loneliness, including measures for one-person households, the prevention of social isolation and psychological support. Society should focus on rebuilding social trust, given that low trust is closely linked to higher loneliness. A society rooted in coexistence reduces loneliness naturally. Individuals must also take steps to change themselves, cultivating habits of listening, empathy, and mutual understanding.

Even in an age overflowing with connections, loneliness is deepening. It should not be viewed merely as a private emotional struggle. Loneliness is a social illness. Precisely because we are human, it is time for government and society to act. These are the concerns of a sociologist watching the spread of loneliness with growing unease.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.