'Rested' Youths and the Crumbling Family
The term 'rested' refers to a segment of the economically inactive population that does not participate in the labor market due to special circumstances or without education and training. Is there a way to save the 'rested' youths?
On the 17th of the month, SBS's program 'I Want to Know That' traced the issues faced by 'rested' kangaroo families.
In 2023, a typical office worker, Lee Yoon-cheol, was shocked after coming across a post online stating, "I want to kill myself." The police took action and provided personal protection, and after an investigation, a man was apprehended. However, there was a surprising twist. The culprit who wrote the post was none other than his younger brother, Lee Chan-young.
After graduating high school, Lee Chan-young had been living without a job alongside his mother, and his brother, Lee Yoon-cheol, spared no financial support for him. The fact that his younger brother had even bought a weapon with the intention of killing him was shocking in itself.
The younger brother, who lived in the family home, prepared a weapon
He stated to the police, "I wanted to die, but I was afraid. I thought it would be better to kill someone and go to jail." The brother stood by him until the end and pleaded for leniency, and ultimately, Lee Chan-young was released on probation.
However, Lee Chan-young once again cut off contact and disappeared, and in the house where he was later found, a long letter filled with anger towards his brother and the weapon were discovered. Eventually, he posted another message hinting at suicide and was administratively hospitalized by the police.
Lee Yoon-cheol felt that his mother was also one of the causes of the problem. Always protecting his brother, she once even contemplated a drastic choice along with her younger son for the sake of her older son. Ultimately, the brothers and their mother decided to understand each other's pain and try to live again as a family.
Experts warn that the issue of isolated youths is spreading in a structure that is 'crumbling' the entire family. In Japan, it has already become a social problem, and similar patterns are emerging in South Korea.
One informant shared his experience of almost being killed by his younger brother, who has been reclusive for ten years. He tearfully expressed, "I feel like he will die if left alone. I’m scared of retaliation. I fear that a difficult situation will come somehow."
An expert advised, "Depression and anxiety have become chronic. In such cases, the chances of healing are higher when someone who has gone through similar experiences approaches them, rather than just family."
Another recluse, 32-year-old Choi Jin-mo (pseudonym), who has stayed home for 12 years, shared his reality on the broadcast. He met with the production team while his parents were at work and stated, "It’s been months since I communicated with anyone."
The only space he communicates in is online communities. He mentioned, "I’m active on DC Inside, Femme Co, and Ruliweb but have never made a friend," and in reality, his phone contacts only include 'Mom' and 'Dad.'
Another expert emphasized, "When they do attempt to have conversations with their family, if they miss that golden time, they revert into isolation. Many have already lost the timing for recovery within the family, so society needs to intervene and create a virtuous cycle."
The broadcast concluded with the message, "In the grand scheme of life, a 'temporary pause' can be an opportunity. Ultimately, it is our society that opens that possibility."
Image Source: SBS 'I Want to Know That'
