Seoul's $322 Million Gambit To Save The City From Crushing Loneliness Won't Fix The Source Of Its Problems

The Seoul Metropolitan Government said in October that it would be pouring 451.3 billion won, or $322 million, to combat the loneliness epidemic gripping the city.Ed Jones/AFP via Getty ImagesSeoul city authorities want to tackle the loneliness epidemic with a $322 million plan.Lonely individuals can call a 24/7 counseling hotline and win rewards for attending local events.While the plan is a step in the right direction, experts say it will not address the problem's roots.Seoul's loneliness epidemic is eating the city from within.The city glitters, but there's a reason the locals call South Korea "Hell Joseon." Locals contend with crippling debt and pressure-cooker academic and work lives.