More than 3,600 people died alone in their homes in South Korea last year, data showed on Thursday, with middle-aged and elderly men accounting for more than half of these deaths.
The number of “unrelated deaths” reached 3,661 in 2023, up from 3,559 the previous year, according to data compiled by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and reported by Yonhap News Agency.
These figures indicate that 1.04 out of every 100 deaths in South Korea were caused by deaths of people alone last year.
This is due to deaths of individuals who live in social isolation without any contact with others, and who die as a result of suicide, illness, or other causes.
“The only deaths among people in their 20s and 30s appear to be due to failure to find jobs or being fired from work,” said Noh Jong-hoon, a social welfare official at the Ministry of Health.
He added: “We plan to help them reach organizations that can offer jobs, in addition to taking measures to help them improve their health condition, which deteriorated during the isolation period.”