International media have highlighted the issue of ‘hikikomori’, or socially isolated and emotionally withdrawn individuals, in South Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong, noting that increasing internet use, decreased face-to-face interactions, and the COVID-19 pandemic have exacerbated this phenomenon, which is now emerging in other countries as well.
On May. 25 (local time), CNN published an interactive article titled “A Shrinking Life: Why Some Asian Youth Withdraw from the World,” providing a multifaceted analysis of the hikikomori problem in these three countries.
CNN explained that governments and organizations across Asia are striving to help hikikomori reintegrate into society. This task is becoming increasingly urgent as many countries face challenges related to aging populations, declining workforces, falling birth rates, and youth issues.
Citing analysis from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, CNN reported that as of 2022, 2.4% of South Korea’s population aged 19-32 are identified as hikikomori, amounting to approximately 244,000 individuals nationwide.
Heo Ji-won, a psychology professor at Korea University, attributed the increase in hikikomori to the ‘perfectionistic concerns’ of the MZ generation (born from the 1980s to early 2000s). Heo told CNN, “They are generally sensitive to criticism, excessively self-critical, and fear failure. When they attempt something new and do not achieve the desired results, they become very discouraged and anxious.”
In Japan, the number of hikikomori is reported to be even higher than in South Korea. A recent Japanese government survey revealed that there are about 1.5 million hikikomori in Japan.
CNN reported that in Japan, the growing numbers of hikikomori reflect broad economic issues such as rising living costs and stagnant wages. Teppei Sekimizu, an associate professor at Meiji Gakuin University, told CNN, “In Japan, it is common for individuals to become hikikomori after losing their jobs or struggling to support their families.”
In Hong Kong, CNN reported that there could be up to 50,000 hikikomori. Paul Wong, an associate professor at the University of Hong Kong, noted that most of them are middle or high school students, but the hikikomori issue is also appearing among early teenagers.
CNN cited experts who noted that while the hikikomori phenomenon first emerged in Asia, similar issues are being observed in countries such as the United States, Spain, and France. The increasing numbers of hikikomori can be attributed to the rise in internet usage and the decrease in face-to-face interactions, potentially leading to a global spread of this phenomenon. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in more indoor activities, may have contributed to the increase in hikikomori cases.
