Jeju Province launches support center for isolated and reclusive youth

Jeju Province has launched the Jeju Youth Future Center Onbaram, a dedicated institution designed to support isolated and reclusive youth and their families. The center aims to help young people recover mentally and reintegrate into society at their own pace.

According to provincial data, approximately 7,744 youth in Jeju—about 4.7% of the youth population—are considered reclusive. This follows a national trend where the number of reclusive youth in South Korea is estimated at 537,800, or 5.2% of the population.

The center provides a six-stage support system: online communication, one-on-one counseling, family education and counseling, self-understanding and daily life recovery programs, small-scale social activities, and career exploration linked to work experience. The initiative seeks to prevent long-term isolation from evolving into broader economic and caregiving crises for families.