CNN has highlighted the issue of reclusive young adults in Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong who are socially disconnected and living in emotional isolation.
On May 25th, CNN ran a special report titled “A Shrinking Life: Why Some Asian Youth Withdraw From the World,” focusing on the problem of hikikomori.
CNN Spotlights Hikikomori in Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong
In Korea, 2.4% of the population aged 19-32, totaling 244,000 individuals, are identified as hikikomori.
Professor Heo Ji Won of Korea University’s Department of Psychology analyzed, “Many millennials and Gen Zs tend to worry about perfectionism, which is related to the increase in reclusive youth. They are sensitive to criticism, overly self-critical, have a fear of failing, and become very disappointed and anxious when they do not achieve the desired results after trying something new.”
Japan had more hikikomori than Korea, reaching 1.5 million. This is believed to be due to a range of economic issues, such as rising living costs and stagnant wages. An associate professor from Meiji Gakuin University told CNN, “In Japan, many become reclusive after struggling to support their families or losing their jobs.”
A Japanese man who lived as a recluse for five years from the age of 35 told CNN, “After returning to my hometown to take care of my sick parents, I felt a lot of pressure as an only child to take care of them and manage finances well, which led me to become confined to my bedroom.”
In Hong Kong, it is estimated that there are up to 50,000 hikikomori.
Associate Professor Paul Wong from the University of Hong Kong revealed that the problem of reclusive loners appears not only among middle school and high school students but also among early adolescents.
Increased Due to the Rise of the Internet and COVID-19
Yun Chul Kyung, Standing Director of the National Youth Policy Institute, reported to CNN regarding families related to the problem of hikikomori, saying, “In the past, we had large families and many siblings, so we had many opportunities to learn how to form relationships. But as living environments have changed, there is less experience in forming communal relationships than before.”
Recent studies believe that the number of hikikomori, which existed in the past, has increased due to the internet and COVID-19.
Citing expert opinions, CNN explained that while the phenomenon of hikikomori first appeared in Asia, similar problems are emerging in countries such as the U.S., Spain, and France. Researchers at Yale University said, “The rise of the internet and the decrease in face-to-face interaction may be driving the global spread of reclusiveness,” and “More recluses have emerged due to COVID-19, which encourages people to stay indoors as much as possible.”
CNN reported, “Governments and organizations across Asia are making efforts to help reclusive loners reintegrate into society,” and “This task is becoming more urgent as many countries are struggling with aging populations, declining labor force, low birth rates, and youth problems.”
