All alone in Seoul

Intense competition in life

One district in southern Seoul City

Before depression sets in

Mindset shift?

Social isolation is especially acute in the capital city of Seoul—and it’s not just among the elderly.

Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.

South Korea correspondent Wendy Teo, who has lived in South Korea for six years, describes what life in Seoul can be like, and explains why loneliness is a looming epidemic not just for the aged but for young people there as well. 

Steps are being taken to address the challenge, with local authorities rolling out measures ranging from cafes where anyone can drop by for a steaming hot bowl of ramyeon to 24-hour call centres.  

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:12 All alone in Seoul

4:59 Intense competition in exams and for jobs

6:41 A district in southern Seoul City

11:47 Tackling the problem before depression sets in

15:04 Are mindsets shifting?

Read Wendy Teo’s article here: https://str.sg/f4bN

Read Li Xueying’s articles: https://str.sg/iqmR 

Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/ip4x  

Register for Asian Insider newsletter: https://str.sg/stnewsletters  

Host: Li Xueying (xueying@sph.com.sg)

Produced and edited by: Fa’izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:

Channel: https://str.sg/JWa7 

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/JWa8 

Spotify: https://str.sg/JWaX

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg 

SPH Awedio app: https://www.awedio.sg

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Follow more ST podcast channels:

All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

Get more updates: http://str.sg/stpodcasts

The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: https://str.sg/4Vwsa

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Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:

The App Store: https://str.sg/icyB 

Google Play: https://str.sg/icyX 

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#STAsianInsider

Social isolation is especially acute in the capital city of Seoul&mdash;and it&rsquo;s not just among the elderly.
Synopsis: Every first Friday of the month, The Straits Times catches up with its foreign correspondents about life and trends in the countries they're based in.
South Korea correspondent Wendy Teo, who has lived in South Korea for six years, describes what life in Seoul can be like, and explains why loneliness is a looming epidemic not just for the aged but for young people there as well.&nbsp;
Steps are being taken to address the challenge, with local authorities rolling out measures ranging from cafes where anyone can drop by for a steaming hot bowl of ramyeon to 24-hour call centres.&nbsp;&nbsp;
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:12 All alone in Seoul
4:59 Intense competition in exams and for jobs
6:41 A district in southern Seoul City
11:47 Tackling the problem before depression sets in
15:04 Are mindsets shifting?
Read Wendy Teo&rsquo;s article here: <a href="https://str.sg/f4bN">https://str.sg/f4bN</a>
Read Li Xueying&rsquo;s articles: <a href="https://str.sg/iqmR">https://str.sg/iqmR</a>&nbsp;
Follow Li Xueying on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/ip4x">https://str.sg/ip4x</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Register for Asian Insider newsletter: <a href="https://str.sg/stnewsletters">https://str.sg/stnewsletters</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;
Host: Li Xueying (<a href="mailto:xueying@sph.com.sg">xueying@sph.com.sg</a>)
Produced and edited by: Fa&rsquo;izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
Follow Asian Insider Podcast on Fridays here:
Channel:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa7">https://str.sg/JWa7</a>&nbsp;
Apple Podcasts:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWa8">https://str.sg/JWa8</a>&nbsp;
Spotify:&nbsp;<a href="https://str.sg/JWaX">https://str.sg/JWaX</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>&nbsp;
SPH Awedio app: <a href="https://www.awedio.sg">https://www.awedio.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel:<a href="https://str.sg/wvz7"> https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates:<a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts"> http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
The Usual Place Podcast YouTube:<a href="https://str.sg/4Vwsa"> https://str.sg/4Vwsa</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB">https://str.sg/icyB</a>&nbsp;
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>&nbsp;
---
#STAsianInsider

Get our uniquely Asian perspective on global issues, with ST’s correspondents from around the world.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.

Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani

Executive producer: Ernest Luis

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

Asian Insider

Synopsis: Every Friday, get our distinct take on global issues with an Asian perspective, with ST’s globally-based correspondents.
Produced and edited by: Fa'izah Sani
Executive producer: Ernest Luis
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media.

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