'Don't Worry Village': Where young South Koreans escape long work hours, loneliness
For young South Koreans, life in Seoul is a very different experience. With unaffordable housing, long working hours, and relatively low wages, many feel disheartened.
In 2018, when Kim Ji-ung was living in the South Korean capital, Seoul, loneliness consumed him. Single and in his early 30s, the salesman spent his days at work and nights isolated in his apartment.
"I pondered about dying during my morning commute," Kim told Al Jazeera. "The most difficult thing was that I had no one to talk to. After work, I would be at home scrolling through TV channels or playing video games."
Kim's struggles deepened when a close friend suddenly collapsed and died at work. That tragedy forced him to ask: "Will I be next?" Not long after, he made one of the most difficult choices of his life — to leave behind Seoul, a city of 9.6 million that offered him career prospects and financial stability, but little human connection.
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Seoul's declining youth population
Seoul's population has been shrinking for decades, falling from a peak of nearly 11 million in 1992. Young people in particular are leaving. Data shows that the city's 19 to 39 age group dropped from 3.18 million in 2016 to 2.86 million in 2023.
Despite its global image as a hub of technology, culture and nightlife, Seoul struggles to retain its youth. The capital hosts corporate giants such as LG, Hyundai Motors, and SK Group, and attracts international acclaim with art fairs, K-pop, and trendy districts like Gangnam, Hongdae, and Seongsu. But behind the glamour lies a harsher reality.
Skyrocketing housing costs, low wages, and a punishing work culture have earned Seoul the nickname "Hell Joseon," a nod to Korea's ancient kingdom. Yoo Hye-jeong of the Korean Peninsula Population Institute for Future explained: "Our society is known for its infamous jobs that force employees to work long hours, cut off the careers of women who give birth and make it hard for men to apply for paternity leave."
She added: "Seoul's abnormally high costs for housing and child education translate to difficulty in creating a stable economic foundation for families."
A new home in Don't Worry Village
For Kim, escape came by chance when he discovered an online ad for a retreat in Don't Worry Village, located in Mokpo, a southwestern city of 210,000 filled with abandoned buildings.
The project was founded by Hong Dong-woo, a Seoul native who once seemed destined for the city's fast track. Educated in Daechi-dong, known for its elite schools, Hong appeared set for a corporate career. But at 20, he decided that wasn't the life he wanted.
"Life in Seoul, working at a high-paying job was not the life I wanted," the 38-year-old told Al Jazeera. "I didn't want to spend long hours at the office every day." Even as a university student majoring in mechanical engineering, Hong chose to step away from Seoul.
After launching a travel agency, he met countless young adults who, like Kim, struggled with isolation and the relentless pace of corporate life. Their stories inspired him to establish Don't Worry Village.
"The blueprint for our village was to make a hometown that would act as a community – something that so many people in our country lack in their lives," Hong explained. "In some ways, I was in the business of providing protection for people in our society who needed it."
South Korea's youth loneliness crisis
Researchers warn South Korea's young people face a "national emergency" of isolation, worsened by industrialisation and weak family support systems. "Our society prioritises money over people," said Seong-a, a researcher at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA).
Surveys show South Koreans value material wellbeing over family, unlike most advanced nations. The country ranks 33rd out of 38 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) states for life satisfaction and has the highest suicide rate, reaching 28.3 per 100,000 in 2024.
Official figures show one-third of Seoul's population lives alone, with 64% of single-person households under 39. A city survey found 62% of single dwellers feel persistently lonely and 13.6% are socially isolated.
Authorities have launched a $322 million plan to counter isolation, funding hotlines, community hubs, and incentives for families. But challenges remain as housing costs and work pressures discourage marriage and child-rearing.
Initiatives like Don't Worry Village in Mokpo aim to lure young adults out of Seoul.
Residents such as Kim Ji-ung and founder Hong Dong-woo say smaller communities foster friendships and freedom from corporate culture. "In Mokpo, I have control over my time," Hong said.
Couples like Park Myung-ho and Kim Min-jee left high-paying Seoul jobs for slower, family-friendly lives.
Despite interest, few stay in such villages. Out of 2,000 visitors to Don't Worry Village, only 20 remained. Many instead seek opportunities abroad through working holiday visas. Nurse Brianna Lee, 30, left South Korea for Canada to escape long shifts and judgment.
Now preparing to work in the US, she said, "Most importantly, people aren't nosy. They care less about how you live your life."
