1 day Ago By Korea Bizwire
At the heart of the struggle is an absence of stable support. (Image created by ChatGPT) SEOUL, April 30, (Korea Bizwire) — For many at-risk youths in South Korea, each day brings a quiet battle — against despair, isolation, and a gnawing sense that survival itself can feel uncertain. A new government survey released Tuesday paints a sobering portrait: one in three vulnerable youths said they had spent at least two weeks over the past year so overwhelmed by sadness or hopelessness that they could not manage daily life.
Girls reported these feelings at almost double the rate of boys. Among the most alarming findings, nearly one in five said they had attempted self-harm, and 8.2% had tried to take their own lives — figures that call attention to the urgent need for more comprehensive mental health interventions.
The survey, conducted in 2024 by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, focused on South Koreans aged 9 to 18 who had sought help at youth shelters or counseling centers. It highlights a growing crisis among those facing family conflict, academic pressures, and social isolation. A student carrying a backpack.
South Korean youths are known for experiencing high levels of academic stress. (Yonhap) “I felt like I didn’t exist to anyone,” said one 16-year-old respondent, who had been living in a youth shelter after fleeing an abusive home. Stories like theirs were echoed throughout the survey: 69.
5% of runaway youths said they left home due to family conflict, while others cited domestic violence, a desire for freedom, or difficulties in school. Many found temporary refuge with friends or in youth facilities. But nearly 30% admitted to sleeping on the streets — exposed, vulnerable, and invisible.
The digital world offered no safe haven. Roughly 17% of the surveyed youths reported suffering from online rights violations, including digital sexual abuse and data breaches. Girls were more than twice as likely as boys to fall victim.
At the heart of the struggle is an absence of stable support. “The family should be a young person’s first safety net,” said Hwang Yeo-jung of the Korea Youth Policy Institute. “But for many at-risk youths, that net is already broken — leaving them feeling deeply isolated from society.
” Material hardships added another layer of despair. More than half cited lack of living expenses as their greatest challenge while living outside the home. Economic support topped the list of urgently needed interventions, alongside counseling and housing assistance.
Physical and emotional violence remained alarmingly common: over 40% said they had suffered verbal or physical abuse at the hands of their parents or guardians. Experiences of sexual violence and stalking, too, had risen since the last survey. Officials vowed action.
“We must move faster to find and support youths in crisis,” said Hwang Yoon-jung, Director of Youth and Family Policy at the Ministry. “Every child deserves a future built not on fear, but on hope.” For South Korea’s at-risk youths, survival is more than a matter of food or shelter.
It is a daily act of endurance — one that demands society’s attention not just in moments of crisis, but every single day. Lina Jang ( [email protected] ).
