新加坡《海峡时报》：韩国“心灵便利店”，让一碗拉面成为温暖锚点

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the "Soul Convenience Store" initiative in Seoul, aimed at addressing the growing issue of loneliness among South Koreans, particularly in the context of rising single-person households and mental health challenges [1] Group 1: Initiative Overview - The "Soul Convenience Store" is part of the "Seoul, No Longer Lonely" initiative, which began in October 2024 as a five-year plan to provide warm spaces for the increasing number of lonely individuals in South Korea [1] - The Seoul city government has committed to investing 450 billion KRW (approximately 23.6 billion RMB) over the next five years to support this initiative [1] Group 2: Demographics and Impact - As of 2024, there are 7.83 million single-person households in South Korea, accounting for 35.5% of all households, with a significant concentration in the capital region [1] - Nearly half of the single-person households in Seoul are comprised of individuals in their twenties and thirties, with 60% of these individuals reporting feelings of loneliness [1] Group 3: Personal Stories - The article features the story of a 63-year-old woman, Kim Su-ji, who found solace in the "Soul Convenience Store" after years of battling depression and isolation [1] - Initially hesitant to engage with others, she has started visiting weekly, finding comfort in simple interactions and a bowl of ramen, illustrating the initiative's impact on individual lives [1]