[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, recalled his painful past from 40 years ago when he became disabled due to an accident at a factory and attempted an extreme act. He expressed his heartache over the recent increase in suicides caused by COVID-19 depression (Corona Blue) and encouraged people by saying, "Let's not die, but live."
On the 26th, through Facebook, Governor Lee said, "I am concerned about articles reporting an increase in self-harm, depression, and suicide reports since COVID-19," adding, "When you feel like you are standing at the edge of a cliff, and when you feel that no one in this world understands your heart, extreme thoughts arise. How could I recklessly add words about this?" He expressed his regret at being unable to help.
He continued, "Those who know me are aware that I also made a 'choice I should not have made' during my childhood," painfully recalling his past from 40 years ago.
Governor Lee said, "I started working at a factory through disguised employment from the age of 13, became disabled due to an accident, and the swamp of poverty deepened endlessly," adding, "I could not find any reason to live, so I tried to make an extreme choice by taking sleeping pills. When I asked the local pharmacy for sleeping pills, the pharmacist gave me a bunch of digestive medicine instead. I still vividly remember swallowing the wrong digestive medicine and awkwardly lighting a coal briquette stove 40 years ago," sharing his painful past.
He said, "What saved me was the neighboring residents," adding, "Looking back, I think this is the greatest debt I owe to our society."
Governor Lee emphasized that what lifts us up from extreme despair is the small 'interest' and 'solidarity' we show toward each other.
He also stated, "It is the public duty of society and government to do what is right for those fallen into despair," and insisted, "Economic and welfare policies aimed at more people are urgently needed."
He added, "I will struggle to create a world where (I) do not have to take my own life, so let's gather strength just one more time," encouraging, "Let's not die, but live."
Meanwhile, Gyeonggi Province operates a 24-hour emergency psychological counseling hotline (1577-0199).
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