The Korea Times
The Seoul local government is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) and animals to help socially isolated young people take their first steps back into everyday life. The Seoul Metropolitan Government unveiled Tuesday a new plan that combines a 24-hour AI mental health chatbot with an animal-assisted program at city shelters, as part of a larger initiative to prevent youth from falling into prolonged social withdrawal. Over the next five years, the city government plans to invest 109 billion won ($74 million) to support these young people. A survey conducted last year found that among Seoul residents aged 19 to 39, an estimated 54,000, or 2 percent, are “withdrawn youth” cut off from society, while roughly 194,000 (7.1 percent) experience a strong sense of social isolation. At the center of its digital strategy is “Maeum-e,” an AI-based counseling chatbot launched in February. The service is available on the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center website even without logging in, and is designed to offer an anonymous, low‑barrier space where young people can talk about their feeling
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