The Seoul Metropolitan Government is officially launching a “Escape from Eating Alone” program for middle-aged individuals who eat by themselves. The target group is single-person households aged 40 to 67 residing or working in Seoul.
This initiative, part of the “Loneliness-Free Seoul” policy, aims to alleviate isolation and establish social connections. The city plans to recruit and run the program with 1,000 participants by November.
Participants will dine together for lunch or dinner up to four times, forming natural connections in small groups of around 10 people. Meals will be arranged in single-person support centers, shared kitchens, and local restaurants within autonomous districts.
Besides meals, unique programs such as movie watching, sports events, outdoor activities, and cooking experiences will be offered in each district. Seongdong-gu is preparing a baseball game viewing, Seodaemun-gu a history tour and lettuce growing, and Yeongdeungpo-gu a birthday gathering.
Applications can be made through the Seoul Single-Person Households website or each autonomous district. Schedules and participant numbers vary by district, so prior verification is necessary.
According to a study by the Seoul National University Hospital’s Department of Family Medicine, people who eat alone have a 42% higher risk of depression than those who do not. The Korea Single-Person Household Report found that 67.8% of middle-aged single-person households eat alone.
The UN World Happiness Report analyzes that dining with others is closely related to life satisfaction. The intent behind this project is noteworthy as it emphasizes the positive impact of forming relationships through meals on emotional stability.
Yoon Jong-jang, Head of Welfare at the Seoul Metropolitan Government, stated, “We have developed a new program to create ‘meal buddies’ to prevent continued solitary eating from potentially leading to isolation and depression. We hope for a lot of interest and participation in the ‘Escape from Solitary Eating for Middle-aged Singles,’ where individuals with similar interests and experiences come together to dine and form friendships.”
