Government takes action as 'lonely deaths' mount

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday announced plans to reduce the number of so-called "lonely deaths." The measures came as over a million people in Korea are believed to be at high risk of dying alone.

A pair of shoes at a residence in a low-income neighborhood in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul [YONHAP]

The Ministry of Health and Welfare on Thursday announced plans to reduce the number of so-called "lonely deaths."

The measures came as over a million people in Korea are believed to be at high risk of dying alone.

Lonely deaths — godoksa in Korean — are growing more common in the country as the population ages and the number of single-person households surges.

Such deaths refer to when people die with no one around. Their bodies often remain undiscovered for quite some time.

Police last Monday discovered the body of a woman who died alone at her residence in Songpa District, southern Seoul.

According to police, the 62-year-old woman died two months ago. Yet nobody, including her neighbors, was aware she had died.

The government aims to prevent such cases and reduce the number of godoksa by 20 percent over the next five years by discovering people at risk in advance.

Residents such as village heads and village association members, as well as local businesses such as real estate agencies and restaurants, will be designated and trained as gatekeepers to help prevent lonely deaths.

An application that lets people easily ask for help will be developed, and checklists and models will be created to find those at risk of lonely deaths.

These measures were announced with the number of lonely deaths continuously rising over recent years.

A total of 15,066 people died alone over the past five years, with the number of lonely deaths rising 40 percent in five years, from 2,412 in 2017 to 3,378 in 2021.

Men accounted for 84.2 percent of lonely deaths. People in their 50s to 60s accounted for 58.6 percent.

According to the ministry, 21.3 percent of the 9,471 single-person households surveyed were at high risk of dying alone. The individuals in question had less than one social interaction a week, ate only one meal a day on average or had no people who could help them if they become sick.

The ministry explained this means around 1.52 million people out of 7.17 million single-person households are at high risk of lonely deaths, which accounts for three percent of the country’s population.

People in their 50s accounted for the largest share of single-person households at risk with 33.9 percent, more than double the number of at-risk people over the age of 70, who accounted for just 16.2 percent of at-risk individuals.

People in their 60s accounted for 30.2 percent, while those in their 40s accounted for 25.8 percent.

First Vice Minister of Health and Weflare Lee Ki-il announces the ministry's plan to prevent lonely deaths at the Government Complex Seoul in Jongno District, central Seoul on Thursday. [YONHAP]

The ministry pledged to offer different services depending on the age group.

For middle-aged and older individuals, the government will provide programs that could help them with re-employment.

The government will also expand care and medical services for senior citizens.

Public funerals paid for by local authorities will be offered to more people.

Younger people are at higher risk of suicide. Some 56 percent of people in their 20s who died lonely deaths did so by suicide, as did 40.2 percent of those in their 30s.

The ministry, therefore, will offer services to promote the mental health of the younger population by providing one-on-one counseling sessions. Employment support will also be strengthened by offering opportunities for project-based work and internships.

Surveys to track the population exposed to lonely deaths will be conducted annually, as opposed to every five years as they are currently.

“If you are feeling lonely, contacting family members or friends you'd forgotten for a while might be a good way [to overcome your blues],” First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Ki-il said at a press briefing Thursday.

“The government will try its best so that cases of lonely deaths will disappear from Korean society.”

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]