Korean Suicide Rate Climbs
In 2003, Chung Mong-hun, chairman of Hyundai-Asan Corp. jumped to his death amid scandal and charges of illegal payments to North Korea. Chung's untimely death has but heralded a series of suicides among Korean social and business leaders.
For example, former chief justice of the Supreme Court Yoo Tai-heung recently jumped off Mapo Bridge over the Han River in Seoul and ended his life over worries about his chronic disease.
Last year in February, the late Pusan Mayor Ahn Sang-young took his life. One month later, Nam Sang-kook, former president of Daewoo Engineering & Construction, ended his life.
Although those prominent figures committed suicide due to alleged involvement in bribes-related scandals or investigation of the prosecution except Yoo, the deaths are considered contributing to the rising trend of suicide in the society.
According to the Korea Suicide Prevention Center, the number of suicides tend to increase up to 17 times after reports of noted figures committing suicide.
Research studies by the preventive medicine department at Korea University link suicide closely to economic situations such as unemployment and suicide.
The study cites poverty is one of the major triggers driving people to kill themselves here. A person can easily feel loss and deprivation in a highly competitive society while comparing himself with others a lot.
In addition, Lifeline Korea, a counseling service for suicide prevention, the organization is flooded with calls from credit delinquents and unemployed people.
The fast pace of social change in the country and economic conditions have been considered aggravating the suicide trend.
For example, former chief justice of the Supreme Court Yoo Tai-heung recently jumped off Mapo Bridge over the Han River in Seoul and ended his life over worries about his chronic disease.
Last year in February, the late Pusan Mayor Ahn Sang-young took his life. One month later, Nam Sang-kook, former president of Daewoo Engineering & Construction, ended his life.
Although those prominent figures committed suicide due to alleged involvement in bribes-related scandals or investigation of the prosecution except Yoo, the deaths are considered contributing to the rising trend of suicide in the society.
According to the Korea Suicide Prevention Center, the number of suicides tend to increase up to 17 times after reports of noted figures committing suicide.
Research studies by the preventive medicine department at Korea University link suicide closely to economic situations such as unemployment and suicide.
The study cites poverty is one of the major triggers driving people to kill themselves here. A person can easily feel loss and deprivation in a highly competitive society while comparing himself with others a lot.
In addition, Lifeline Korea, a counseling service for suicide prevention, the organization is flooded with calls from credit delinquents and unemployed people.
The fast pace of social change in the country and economic conditions have been considered aggravating the suicide trend.
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