The Health and Welfare Ministry is planning to conduct extensive research on a growing legion of people who refuse to go to school or work, choosing instead to remain at home for long periods of time, ministry officials said Thursday.

In around three years, the ministry will draw up innovative guidelines based on this research to provide care and help to those families affected by this escalating social problem, the officials said.

The ministry will conduct the survey with the help of some 650 local health centers and mental health and welfare centers nationwide to ascertain the severity of the problem and to assess the care that is currently available, they said.