Parents Are Locking Themselves in Happiness Factory in South Korea: Here is Everything You Need to Know
In the picturesque Gangwon Province of South Korea, a unique and poignant experiment is unfolding. Parents are willingly locking themselves in small, solitary cells at a facility known as the Happiness Factory. No phones, laptops, or any form of distraction are allowed. These cells, no larger than a store cupboard, offer only bare walls for company. Yet, these parents are not inmates; they are participants in a 13-week parental education program designed to foster empathy and understanding for their socially withdrawn children. Understanding Hikikomori The term "hikikomori," originating from Japan in the 1990s, describes a severe form of social withdrawal among adolescents and young adults. This phenomenon is not confined to Japan. A survey by South Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare revealed that over 5 percent of 19- to 34-year-olds are isolating themselves. Extrapolated to the wider population, this suggests that approximately 540,000 South Kor...
