{
  "id": 7745128,
  "title": "Korea has 540,000 socially withdrawn people — many are young men, highly educated people",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/korea-has-540-000-socially-withdrawn-people-many-are-young-men-highly",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T08:47:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/southkorea/20260916/korea-has-540000-socially-withdrawn-people-many-are-young-men-highly-educated-people"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent episode of tvN STORY featured counselor Lee Ho-sun, who spoke about the significant issue of social withdrawal in Korea. As of 2022, approximately 540,000 individuals were identified as socially withdrawn, according to Lee. These individuals voluntarily choose isolation, actively avoid social participation, and struggle to maintain relationships.\n\nLee further explained that the primary reasons for this phenomenon among young men in their 20s and highly educated people include difficulties with academics, employment, and interpersonal relationships. For these individuals, repeated failures lead to self-doubt and frustration, which can then contribute to social withdrawal. While it may not be as apparent as stopping out after a single job failure, the compounding effects of these setbacks can have a profound impact on an individual's social life.\n\nInterestingly, Lee also acknowledged that social withdrawal can affect middle-aged people as well, suggesting that the issue is not limited to a specific age group.",
  "summary": "Counselor Lee Ho-sun has explained the serious extent of social withdrawal in Korea and why young men in their 20s and highly educated people make up a significant proportion of those affected. On the Tuesday episode of tvN STORY's \"Lee Ho-sun Counseling Center,\" Lee discussed the issue of social withdrawal. \"An estimated 540,000 people were socially withdrawn as of 2022,\" Lee said, highlighting…",
  "key_points": [
    "Approximately 540,000 Koreans are socially withdrawn as of 2022.",
    "Young men in their 20s and highly educated individuals are primary affected.",
    "Social withdrawal stems from academic, employment, and relationship struggles."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Korea has 540,000 socially withdrawn people — many are young men, highly educated people",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/korea-has-540-000-socially-withdrawn-people-many-are-young-men-highly-7747232",
        "published": "2026-09-16T08:57:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}