Bonus: Could AI chatbots help Asia's socially isolated youth?

Will (0:01)

Hello, welcome to Business Daily from the BBC World Service. Will, with you here. We thought you might be interested in an episode from another BBC World Service podcast. Our former colleague here in the business department, Mariko Oi's Asia Specific. You might remember we spoke to Mariko, our resident yen geek, when the US Treasury decided to step in and support Japan's currency, the yen, asking why Donald Trump and the United States wanted to prop up the currency. You can find that in our feed. Now, she's looking at another challenge though and a possible solution along with it. In this episode of Asia Specific, Mariko explores whether government-backed AI chatbots can help address the growing number of people across Asia experiencing severe social withdrawal, a condition that can leave some feeling unable to step outside their bedrooms. So, if you don't already, make sure you subscribe to Asia Specific and enjoy this program from Mariko.

Mariko Oi (0:59)

Hikikomori, or social recluse, who isolate themselves at home for a long period of time, it's been an ongoing issue for many decades. Japan is estimated to have 1.5 million of them, and South Korea hundreds of thousands. But Sophie, AI might be able to provide a solution.

Sophie Jong (1:18)

That's right, Mariko. So, some governments are trying out AI chatbots to engage people in these isolation, but there are also concerns that some people could become too reliant on them.

Mariko Oi (1:28)

There have been cases of hikikomori in other parts of the world as well, but we're asking, why is this still such a big problem in Asia? I'm Mariko in Singapore, and this is Asia Specific from the BBC World Service. Twice a week, we bring you Asia Pacific stories, unpacked by those who know them best.

Well, I have BBC journalist, Sophie Jong, who's looked into this issue. Welcome to Asia Specific.

Sophie Jong (1:57)

Thanks, Mariko. Thanks for having me.

Mariko Oi (1:59)

I also have Professor Paul Wong from the Hong Kong University joining me. Thank you so much for coming on the pod, Professor.

Paul Wong (2:06)

Thank you for having me too. Thank you.

Mariko Oi (2:08)

So Sophie, you and I, growing up in South Korea and Japan, we're quite familiar with the term hikikomori, but for audiences who aren't too familiar with it, can you just explain what this is?

Sophie Jong (2:21)

So this term was first coined by Japanese psychiatrist Tamaki Saito, and he coined it back in late 1990s. So he has a book that he wrote on hikikomori, and in it, he says, it's a state where someone largely confines themselves to their homes, and don't participate in society for a prolonged time, most often six months or longer. And they often don't have a psychological condition being the main cause.

Mariko Oi (2:45)

And Paul, I guess for viewers and listeners who are not familiar with this term, people might think that just sounds like someone who might be going through some depression, not wanting to go out their home. So what makes them hikikomori? Is there like a specific maybe medical definition that you would like to add?

Paul Wong (3:06)

The definition is getting more complex because more research has been found that there might be some hikikomori, they had some kind of mental health issues before they withdraw from the society. But then there are cases that they have the hikikomori issues before they have the mental health conditions. So now the definition is getting a bit more complex than the 90s.

Mariko Oi (3:35)

Yeah, so it's been an ongoing issue, and it's a huge problem, especially in Northeast Asia, isn't it? I was reading how in Japan, the government estimates that there are one and a half million of them. So Sophie, can you just elaborate on how big it is in South Korea and other parts of Asia?

Sophie Jong (3:53)

In South Korea, based on the last year 2025 social survey data, about 4.7% of South Korean youth, which is from age 19 to 34 So that's roughly about 490,000 young people, half a million young people inside Korea, are considered socially isolated. So that's a big, a broader group basically. It includes hikikomori, but it also includes people who may have limited social connections, or not as much as support systems that they have, instead of just staying at home as hikikomori. So it's a broader definition, but it kind of gives you a sense of how many young people are socially isolated.

Mariko Oi (4:32)

I guess in a case of Trapan, because the issue has been around for so long, some of them are getting older and in their 40s, 50s sometimes. But what actually causes people to isolate themselves? And is there like a certain age group that people are more likely to withdraw from the society?