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Koreans who eat dinner alone

It has been found that Koreans have dinner with others an average of only 1.6 times a week. Additionally, in the 'subjective happiness score' that Koreans themselves assign based on their overall quality of life, Korea ranked 58th out of 147 countries worldwide. This is a drop of six places compared to last year.

On the 20th, in celebration of 'World Happiness Day,' the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) released the 'World Happiness Report 2025,' which states that Koreans' frequency of so-called 'dinner alone' in 2022-2023 was the highest among the G20 countries. The report diagnosed that 'sharing meals' is an element directly linked to happiness, comparable to income and employment status. Accordingly, it was analyzed that "regardless of age, gender, country, or culture, people who dine with others tend to have higher life satisfaction." Frequent 'solo dining' implies a decrease in happiness.


The average number of meal-sharing occasions among Koreans for dinner between 2022 and 2023 was 1.6 times per week. Among 142 surveyed countries, Korea ranked 135th, and among the G20, it was among the lowest along with Japan (1.8 times). Within the G20, South Africa (5.0 times), Australia (4.9 times), Mexico and Canada (4.8 times), Argentina (4.7 times), Brazil and Italy (4.6 times) were countries where people enjoy dinner with others more frequently.

Koreans eat lunch with others an average of only 4.3 times a week. This contrasts with Latin American countries, where the average is 8.8 times, and North America, Australia, New Zealand, and Western Europe, where it is 8.3 times each.

 

In the case of 'despair death,' which refers to deaths caused by suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol addiction, 43 out of 59 surveyed countries between 2000 and 2019 showed a decreasing trend.

However, it has been shown that despair deaths have increased in Korea. Among the 16 countries with rising despair deaths, the country with the highest increase was the United States, with an average of 1.3 additional deaths per 100,000 people annually. Korea and Slovakia ranked second and third, respectively. In particular, in Korea, the increase in suicides among men over 60 has raised concerns.

 

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The number of single-person households is increasing beyond nuclear families.

 

It seems that the frequency of eating with others is gradually decreasing... An average of 1.6 times a week...

 

It's so scary to think that the suicide rate is the highest in the world...ㅠ.ㅠ

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Comments 18
  • Profile Image
    하루=즐겁게+행복하게+웃으며✌
    자살율 세계1위요
    이런 소식은 정말 듣기싫은데 ...
    1위 다른것으로 하고 싶네요 
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      그러니까요.. 음지쪽 말고 양지쪽 1위소식이 좋은데
      슬픈쪽으로도 1위가 많네요.....
  • Profile Image
    안레몬
    1인 식구가 많이 늘어나서 그런거 겠지요. 자살율 세계1위라는게 참 섬뜩합니다.
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      노년층 자살이 많다는게 정말 섬뜩해요..ㅠ.ㅠ
      독거노인층들이 정말 취약합니다..
  • 쩡♡
    세계 1위라니 슬프네요.
    자살률 1위에 출산률 꼴지 
    타이틀이 몇년째 지속 중이네요ㅠ
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      인구절벽이 진행중인게 정말 무섭지요.
      베이비붐세대가 끝나고 나면 정말 인구수는 무섭게 줄어들겠죠...
  • Profile Image
    지영도영
    이제 혼밥도 흔한 일상인것 같아요
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      네 혼자서라도 잘 챙겨먹는 습관을
      들여야겠죠... 
  • Profile Image
    땡땡이
    자살율 세계 1위는 너무 안타깝네요
    사람간의 교류가 있어야 하는데요
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      그러게 말이에요...ㅠ.ㅠ
      교류도 하고 조금이라도 움직이면서 외로움을 덜어야 되는데
  • Profile Image
    서여사
    혼밥 많이 먹으니 ㅋㅋ
    어쩌다 자살율 1위가 됬는지
    • This comment has been deleted.
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      자살율이 전세계1위 타이틀을 계속 유지중이죠...
      정말 슬픈 일입니다...
  • Profile Image
    주여니2
    점점 더 그런듯 해요
    뭔가 점점 더 우울해지나봐요
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      자존감이 떨어지면서 우울감이 밀려오는 사람들이 많나봐요...
      뭔가 나라에 좀 좋은 소식이 많았으면 좋겠네요
  • Profile Image
    앱톰
    절망사가 늘어나고 있다는 게 정말 슬프네요..
    희망이 없다는 건 정말 우울한 일인 것 같아요
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      고독사보다 더한게 절망사 같네요..
      좌절에 빠져서 자책을 한다는게 정말 끔찍하네요...
  • Profile Image
    뉴페이스
    참 슬픈일이네요...  고독사에.. 절망사에..
    희망이 없는 내일이.. 살의미를 잃게 만들죠...
    • Profile Image
      팝콘
      Author
      희망이 없는 내일이라... 오늘을 정말 열심히 
      살아야 겠어요...