Seoul Government Allocates €260 Million to Address Rising Single-Person Households

Half of all households in Seoul now have only one resident. More than 40 percent of men and women aged 25 to 49 say they do not want to marry, according to France 24 reporting. Seoul's municipal government is spending more than €260 million over five years on programs to address what officials describe as an epidemic of loneliness.

Local authorities have classified solitude as a public health issue.

The funding will support services for residents living alone.

France 24 correspondents Chloé Borgnon, Junwon Bae and Justin McCurry reported on the initiative. City data show the share of single-person households has grown steadily in recent years. Officials expect the pattern to continue based on marriage attitudes among younger adults.