Health and Welfare Policy Forum 2022.3 No.305, pp.74-86
Abstract
This study estimates the social cost of isolation from the psychological and economic aspects. As of 2019, the proportion of the isolated population in Korea who reported having no one to turn to in times of trouble was 21.7%, the highest among OECD member countries. Results from the analysis using the Gallup World Poll data suggest that someone who has been isolated without anyone to turn to help needs 4.79 times as much as his or her household income to restore his or her previous life satisfaction level. It is estimated to cost as much as 1.5 billion Korean won to support someone who begins living a socially-isolated life at the age of 25 and remains isolated without taking part in the labor market. As we preparing for the post-COVID-19, social isolation becomes a new social risk, and it is time for our society to actively pay attention.
