Buddhist Perspectives on Disconnected Society and Unclaimed Deceased: Insights from Compassion and Dependent Origination

Single-person households have become a prevalent feature of contemporary Korean society. Amid rapid individualization, family disintegration, and an aging population, Korea is gradually transforming into a “disconnected society” (無緣社會). In a society where social networking services (SNS) are highly developed, personal relationships often trend toward isolation and disconnection rather than genuine connection. Single-person households are potential solitary elderly and may face the possibility of dying alone or as unclaimed deceased. In a society where humans have forgotten their fundamental existence within relationships and where disconnection and isolation have become normalized, the phenomenon of unclaimed deceased has emerged as an extreme social issue. These individuals are excluded from social networks during life and disappear without being remembered after death. This issue extends beyond social welfare or institutional concerns and highlights a fundamental problem of human existence—the profound “loss of relationships” characteristic of contemporary society. This study examines the challenges of a disconnected society from the perspective of two core Buddhist concepts: dependent origination (緣起) and compassion (慈悲). Dependent origination illustrates that all beings exist interdependently, while compassion serves as a practical force to restore the bonds of connection. From this perspective, a disconnected society results from specific conditions within contemporary society, and transforming it into a connected society requires identifying, proposing, and actively implementing conditions that foster relational ties. Accordingly, this paper regards the phenomenon of a disconnected society and unclaimed deceased not as inevitable social outcomes but as practical and social challenges that contemporary Buddhism should address, exploring directions for relational restoration through Buddhist practice. Drawing upon Buddhist scriptures and related resources, this study explores practical approaches for enacting dependent origination and compassion in everyday life. Creating spaces in which individuals can actively experience these principles represents a key responsibility for contemporary Buddhism.