South Korean parents ‘imprison’ themselves to feel pain of their reclusive children
- Official confinement scheme to aid ‘reclusive youths’ sees mothers and fathers locked away for days
Parents in South Korea are choosing to confine themselves to a room for three days to experience the social isolation and anxiety their children are suffering.
At a “Happiness Factory” in the country’s northeastern Gangwon province, mothers and fathers are attempting to understand the secluded inner worlds of so-called “reclusive youths” so they can help them.
Such children have withdrawn from society and spend most days isolated, avoiding communication and usually staying in their bedrooms.
The confinement experience for parents is part of South Korea’s Isolated Youth Parent Education Programme, which spans 13 weeks and is operated by the Blue Whale Recovery Centre and the Korea Youth Foundation.
Residents stay in single bedrooms with bare walls and are forbidden to use electronic devices. Their only link to the outside world is a hole in the door for food delivery.
