Suicide in South Korea

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Suicide
Detail from "The Death of Socrates" by Jacques-Louis David (1748–1825)

South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the 30 OECD countries, with the toll of suicide deaths doubling in the last decade.[1] [2][3][4] Suicide is the most common cause of death for those under 40 in South Korea.[5][6]

Contents

Trend [edit]

The toll of suicide deaths in South Korea has doubled in the last decade.[1] Park and Lester note that suicide rate in South Korea rose from 6.8 per 100,000 people in 1982 to 28.4 in 2011.[7]

Victims [edit]

Suicide is the most common cause of death for those under 40 in South Korea.[5] However, it is a problem much more prevalent in the older populace. In 2003 the suicide rate for people aged 60-74 was about 4.4 higher than for the 15-29 age group, and the suicide rate for those over 75 was over 10.6 as big.[7] More than two thirds of the suicides are committed by males (in 2003, the ratio was about 2:1).[8]

Two most common methods of suicide in the period of 1993 to 2003 was poisoning and hanging, accounting for about 2/3 of all suicides.[9]

Suicides of famous people [edit]

Suicide in South Korea has gained attention as a national problem after the deaths of several well-known people, including the former President Roh Moo-hyun, the millionaire Samsung heiress Lee Yoon-hyung, the Korean pop singers U;Nee, Chae Dong Ha, professional footballers Yoon Ki-Won and Chung Jong-kwan, supermodel Daul Kim, and the actors Ahn Jae-hwan, Jeong Da-bin, Lee Eun-ju, Jang Ja-yeon, Choi Jin-shil, Choi Jin-yeong (Choi Jin-shil's younger brother), Kim Ji-hoo, Park Hye Sang,[10] Park Yong-ha, and Jung Ayul.

Causes [edit]

Of the 29,501 suicides in South Korea between 2009 and 2010, the causes were: psychological despair 28.8% (8,489 cases), physical pain 22.6% (6,672), economic difficulties 15.9% (4,690), and family problems 11.4% (3,363).[11] In cases of youth suicide, the most common cause is pressure related to the College Scholastic Ability Test.[12]

An NGO, Korean Association for Suicide Prevention (KASP) was created in December 2003, and since 2005, it has received support from the government.[13]

Analyzing the suicides up to 2003, Park and Lester note that unemployment was a major factor, and that "cultural tradition of filial obligation is not congruent with the increasingly competitive, specialized labor market of the modern era." In South Korea, it has been the traditional duty of children to take care of their parents. In the modern economy it is more difficult, so the elderly are sacrificing themselves by committing suicide so to lessen the burden on the children.[13]

Response [edit]

The Government of South Korea has appointed a task force of 100 people to check the internet in South Korea, including blogs and social media sites, for any material that helps or encourages suicide.[14]

Park and Lester note that in South Korea there is a cultural belief that suicide is an individual problem, which makes it difficult to secure funding for state medical, welfare and educational programs aiming to reduce the suicide rate.[13]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Williamson, Lucy (5 September 2011). "South Korea suicide toll doubles over a decade". bbc.co.uk/news. 
  2. ^ Society at a Glance 2009: OECD Social Indicators, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
  3. ^ Suicide in South Korea Case of Too Little, Too Late, OhmyNews KOREA
  4. ^ S. Korea has top suicide rate among OECD countries, Seoul, September 18, 2006 Yonhap News
  5. ^ a b Suicide main cause of death for those under 40 in S. Korea, Yonhap News
  6. ^ Korean sports star's suicide echoes death of actress-wife - Yahoo News
  7. ^ a b B. C. Ben Park; David Lester (2008). "South Korea". In Paul S. F. Yip. Suicide in Asia: Causes and Prevention. Hong Kong University Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-962-209-943-2. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 
  8. ^ B. C. Ben Park; David Lester (2008). "South Korea". In Paul S. F. Yip. Suicide in Asia: Causes and Prevention. Hong Kong University Press. p. 23. ISBN 978-962-209-943-2. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 
  9. ^ B. C. Ben Park; David Lester (2008). "South Korea". In Paul S. F. Yip. Suicide in Asia: Causes and Prevention. Hong Kong University Press. p. 26. ISBN 978-962-209-943-2. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 
  10. ^ Actress Park Hye Sang commits suicide
  11. ^ Im, In-tack. "Rash of suicides at one forlorn apartment complex: Residents of complex in north Seoul felt abandoned by society". The Hankyoreh. 
  12. ^ "South Korea's exam suicides". al Jazeera. Nov 10, 2011. Retrieved August 2012. 
  13. ^ a b c B. C. Ben Park; David Lester (2008). "South Korea". In Paul S. F. Yip. Suicide in Asia: Causes and Prevention. Hong Kong University Press. pp. 27–30. ISBN 978-962-209-943-2. Retrieved 14 January 2013. 
  14. ^ "South Korea suicide rates prompt web scrutiny". bbc.co.uk/news. 5 June 2012. 

External links [edit]


Suicide by country
Countries
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