In an effort to empathize with their socially withdrawn children, many parents are voluntarily experiencing confinement at a unique center in South Korea known as the Happiness Factory. This initiative, aimed at bridging the gap between parents and their reclusive children, involves spending time in tiny, solitary cells with minimal contact with the outside world.
What Drives Parents to Experience Solitary Confinement?
These cells, no larger than a small storage cupboard, lack any technological devices, leaving occupants with only bare walls and a small feeding hole in the door for connection to the outside. Residents may don blue prison uniforms, but they are not inmates; rather, they are participants in a “confinement experience” designed to mirror the isolation faced by their children.
How Prevalent is Social Withdrawal Among South Korean Youth?
Reclusive young people, often referred to as “hikikomori” (a term originating in Japan to describe severe social withdrawal), are at the heart of this program. A survey by the South Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare found that over 5% of respondents aged 19 to 34 were living in isolation, translating to approximately 540,000 individuals nationwide.
What Solutions are Offered by the Parental Education Program?
Since April, the Korea Youth Foundation and the Blue Whale Recovery Centre have run a 13-week parental education program. This initiative includes a three-day stay in a facility in Hongcheon-gun, Gangwon Province, where parents experience confinement similar to that of their children. The goal is to help parents better understand the emotional and psychological barriers their children face and improve communication within families.
Can Understanding Lead to Healing for Isolated Families?
Jin Young-hae, whose 24-year-old son has been isolating himself for three years, found the experience enlightening. “I’ve been wondering what I did wrong… it’s painful to think about,” said the 50-year-old mother. “But as I started reflecting, I gained some clarity.”
Her son, once a talented student, struggled with illness, maintaining friendships, and eventually developed an eating disorder. His total withdrawal upon entering university devastated Ms. Jin, leaving her heartbroken as she watched him neglect personal hygiene and meals.
How Do Parents Gain Insight Through the Happiness Factory?
At the Happiness Factory, reading notes from other isolated young people helped her understand her son’s silence. “He’s protecting himself with silence because no one understands him,” she realized.
Another parent, Park Han-sil, came for her 26-year-old son, who has been reclusive for seven years. Despite multiple attempts to seek professional help, her son refused medication and became addicted to video games. Through the program, Ms. Park has learned to accept her child’s unique life path without trying to fit him into a specific mold.
What Factors Drive Young People to Withdraw from Society?
The Ministry of Health and Welfare’s research indicates that difficulties in finding employment, interpersonal relationships, family issues, and health problems are common factors driving young people into isolation. In response, the South Korean government has implemented a five-year plan to address mental health, including biannual check-ups for people aged 20-34.
Are There Broader Implications of Social Withdrawal?
This phenomenon of social withdrawal is not unique to South Korea; Japan saw its first wave of hikikomori in the 1990s, resulting in a generation of middle-aged individuals reliant on their elderly parents, often leading to financial and emotional strain.
What Cultural Factors Contribute to This Issue?
Professor Jeong Go-woon of Kyung Hee University’s sociology department notes that societal pressures and economic challenges amplify young people’s anxiety, contributing to their withdrawal. The traditional view that a child’s achievements reflect parental success often leaves families feeling isolated and guilty when children struggle.
The Blue Whale Recovery Centre’s director, Kim Ok-ran, highlights that the perception of self-isolation as a “family problem” often leads parents to withdraw from social interactions, fearing judgment. This isolation extends to avoiding family gatherings and support systems.
Is There Hope for Reconnecting with Isolated Children?
Despite these challenges, parents at the Happiness Factory remain hopeful. Asked what she would say to her son if he emerged from his isolation, Ms. Jin, with tears in her eyes, said, “You’ve been through so much. It was hard, wasn’t it? I’ll be watching over you.”