Suicide among young Koreans is systemic problem, experts say

The death of K-pop idol Moonbin of boy band Astro shocked Korea and signaled that suicide among young Koreans continues to be a deep-rooted problem that haunts the country.

A Phone of Life on the Mapo Bridge in western Seoul, which people can use to get help [YONHAP]

The death of K-pop idol Moonbin of boy band Astro shocked Korea and signaled that suicide among young Koreans continues to be a deep-rooted problem that haunts the country.

In 2022, suicide was the cause of death for 50.1 percent of Koreans who died aged 9 to 24.

Suicide is covered frequently in Korean news, reflecting Korea's status as the country with the highest rate of suicide out of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member states, with 23.6 deaths out of 100,000.

Especially, Korea's suicide rate for those aged 15 to 29 is double the average of OECD member states.

Moonbin's death follows a string of suicides by household names in the K-pop industry, such as Sulli of girl group f(x) and Jonghyun of boy group SHINee.

A few weeks after the news of Moonbin's death, headlines covered the suicide of a 30-year-old employee at the online platform company Naver and the suicide of a high school student after school bullying.

Moonbin of boy band Astro at a showcase on Jan. 4, 2023 [NEWS1]

Among various reasons behind young people killing themselves, one of the biggest reasons mostly referred to is the unstable employment system in Korea.

A video segment of "You Quiz on the Block," a Korean TV show, that featured an interview with a chwi-jun-saeng, or employment-seeking student in Korean, attracted 400,000 views on YouTube, with many expressing sympathy with the interviewee.

"I'm also a chwi-jun-saeng, so I can completely understand how she suddenly cried while talking… I burst into tears on my own often these days. I cry because I'm unable to achieve independence at this age, and I feel sorry for not being of any help to my family," a comment said.

In 2020, a survey conducted by Job Korea revealed that 93.8 percent of students seeking jobs felt extreme stress. Statistics Korea reported that the biggest cause of death for teenagers and those aged between 20 to 39 was suicide, while the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family reported that young suicides increased by 44 percent in the past three years.

Cheerful messages are up on board at an event to prevent suicide hosted by Seoul Metropolitan Government in August. [NEWS1]

Widening inequality and the sense of helplessness are other contributing factors, according to Kim Jae-woo, professor of sociology at Cheonbuk National University.

"Separate from Covid-19, inequality is deepening in Korean society," Kim said. "A sense of relative deprivation, anxiety about the future, stress and depression stems from this issue."

Kim said these are "wounds from society."

In 2023, Korea ranked second among OECD countries for the speed of widening income inequality.

Kim noted the number of reported cases of depression has increased significantly among young Koreans, especially those in their 20s.

"Depression is one of the most important variables linked to suicide," Kim added. "Mental health has deteriorated significantly. Feelings of social isolation have increased due to social distancing among teenagers and young adults in Korea."

Kim said the high prevalence of depression in Korea is a structural problem.

"Young Koreans have been disadvantaged the most by the labor market due to the decrease of new employment and the increase of layoffs and temporary employment. Economic difficulties such as debt have worsened."

Banners at a bridge in Gwangju show uplifting messages for pedestrians. [YONHAP]

Hannah Lee, a researcher at the Ewha Institute for Age Integration Research, points to the slang "dirt spoon" and notes that "the perception that Korean society won't change no matter how hard I work has burdened young Koreans and made them lose their will."

"Dirt spoon" is a self-deprecating slang that became popularized in Korea in the 2010s. It is part of a "spoon class theory," where your family background determines the class you are born in and the outcome of your life.

Being born with a "dirt spoon" in your mouth in a lower-income family is often compared to being born with a "gold spoon" in a high-income family. The terms are commonly thrown around in Korea to express feelings of helplessness and relative deprivation.

Experts say fundamental policy changes are essential to tackle the situation.

"The fact that Korea has the highest suicide rate doesn't imply that the youths in other countries are living in a better environment or that they are less depressed," Lee said. "It means that other countries [such as the United States or Australia] actively help people who are in danger of suicide and encourage them to return to society."

Health Minister Cho Kyoo-hong announces plans to prevent suicide at a briefing held on April 14. [YONHAP]

Korea's Ministry of Health and Welfare on April 14 announced its fifth plan to prevent suicide, with a goal of reducing suicide by 30 percent through solutions such as conducting mental health checkups every two years instead of ten years.

The plans, however, have attracted criticism, as they included prohibiting the production of a material commonly used for suicide, raising questions about whether banning one material would address the issue.

"What's needed are more fundamental policy changes and interventions," Kim said. "The government needs to increase not the number of jobs but the quality of employment opportunities. There also needs to be assistance in housing, welfare and social-cultural aspects. Policies also should be categorized to fit the specific needs of different types of young Koreans, such as those living alone."

Lee also said the media should refrain from reporting suicides in detail.

"Recently, the media is describing in excessive detail who, why and how people have chosen to die by suicide," Lee said, adding that being constantly exposed to those details could lead one to think suicide is a desirable option.

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191. The Seoul Foreign Resident Center offers English-language counseling. Contact 02-2229-4900 to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

BY STUDENT REPORTER KIM CHE-YEON [kjd.kcampus@joongang.co.kr]