Seoul Leads the Way: Building a Citywide Psychological Service System

A collaboration between Seoul’s leadership, Korean Psychologists and CBT experts, and WCCBT toward scalable, evidence-based mental-health care

In recent years, the Seoul Metropolitan Government has taken bold and innovative steps to address one of the country’s most pressing mental-health challenges—extreme social withdrawal among young people, known locally as hikikomori. According to Seoul’s 2023 Survey on Youth with Social Withdrawal, approximately 4.5% of residents aged 19–39 experience prolonged social isolation, unemployment, or emotional distress that keeps them disconnected from education, work, and community life.

Recognizing that these difficulties are deeply tied to psychopathology rather than mere social behavior, the city has begun developing a coordinated, evidence-based response centered on Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies (CBTs).

The K-PSY Psychological Service System: Seoul’s Innovative Model

The Seoul Metropolitan Government’s proposed K-PSY Psychological Service System was introduced during the 2023 WCCBT Congress in Seoul in a presentation led by Dr. Sooyeon (Aly) Suh (Sungshin Women’s University), Dr. Seung-Ah Lee (Seoul National University Hospital), and Dr. Kyong-Mee Chung (Yonsei University).

Their presentation, “Psychological Service System Targeting Individuals with Extreme Social Withdrawal”, outlined a three-step support framework:

1. Psychological Recovery – Addressing emotional regulation, activation, and motivation to reconnect.
2. Social Recovery – Rebuilding interpersonal skills and readiness for reintegration.
3. Social Reintegration – Providing financial support, mentoring, and employment transition services.

The plan includes:

• Counseling and activity-based well-being programs in 132 youth centers
• Mental health vouchers to increase accessibility
• Small-group and community-based interventions
• A structure for regional psychological support centers led by trained psychologists

The ultimate goal is to establish K-PSY centers in all 25 districts of Seoul, operating in parallel with existing mental-health welfare centers.

International Collaboration and the WCCBT’s Role

During the 2023 WCCBT Congress, WCCBT President Dr. Lata K. McGinn and Dr. David M. Clark participated in a meeting with the Vice Mayor of Seoul, members of the Seoul Metropolitan Assembly, and leading Korean psychologists including Dr. Kee-Hong Choi (Professor, Korea University), Dr. Aly Suh (Associate Professor, Sungshin University), Dr. Junghye Kwon (President, Korean Association for CBT), and Dr. Daeho Kim (President, Korean Society of Clinical Psychology).

Dr. Kee-Hong Choi and Dr. Aly Suh presented the model of the three-step Psychological Services Support framework and the case for Governmental support to address the needs of young adults in Seoul with rising mental health needs and extreme social withdrawal.

Dr. Clark presented the UK’s Talking Therapies Program, detailing how a national commitment to evidence-based psychological services can dramatically improve public mental health while generating measurable economic returns.

Dr. McGinn emphasized how CBT helps young people reduce distress, overcome avoidance, and improve functioning, and reaffirmed the WCCBT’s commitment to collaborate with governments to design, train, and implement effective national systems of care.

Following this meeting, Seoul officials—guided by Dr. Clark—consulted UK health economists to estimate the costs and projected savings of launching a similar program. Their analyses confirmed that such a model would be cost-effective for South Korea, leading the Seoul Metropolitan Government to begin funding CBT-based psychological services under the K-PSY framework.

These efforts led to the establishment of the Seoul Metropolitan Psychological Support Center, which is operated by the Korean Psychological Association under contract with the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The Center is responsible for overseeing the quality of psychological support and psychological services provided throughout Seoul. In addition, the National Psychological Counseling Voucher Program was launched following the WCCBT Congress and has now entered its second year of implementation.

A Model for Global Replication

The Seoul K-PSY Psychological Support Center now operates across the city, serving as a model for how local governments can lead evidence-based mental-health reform. With structured training, professional supervision, and integration of CBT principles, the initiative provides accessible, scalable care for thousands of young adults. This initiative represents a significant step toward expanding access to evidence-based psychological services across the country.

This collaboration between Seoul’s policymakers, Korean clinicians, and WCCBT leadership exemplifies how shared science, and advocacy can drive systemic change—and how governments can invest in mental health as both a public good and an economic imperative.

Further Reading

Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government, “2023 Survey on Youth with Social Withdrawal.”
Presentation: Suh, S., Lee, S.-A., & Chung, K.-M. (2023). Psychological Service System Targeting Individuals with Extreme Social Withdrawal.
Collaboration: Meeting between the Seoul Metropolitan Government, WCCBT, and Korean CBT leaders, June 2, 2023. Email Communication with Dr. Kee Hong Choi and Dr. Aly Suh.