After Suicide Prevention Counseling... Male Counselor Who Contacted Saying "It Lingers in My Mind" Expelled

On the 8th, KBS reported that a counselor from the 1393 Suicide Prevention Hotline operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare personally contacted a client who had received counseling, suggesting to stay friends. Photo by KBS broadcast screen capture.

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A counselor at the 1393 Suicide Prevention Counseling Hotline, operated by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, personally contacted a client who had received counseling, asking to be friends.

According to a KBS report on the 18th, a woman in her 30s, Ms. A, called the 1393 counseling hotline on the morning of the 1st. Ms. A, who had been suffering from panic disorder for 10 years, regularly visited the hospital and took medication, but occasionally used the 1393 counseling hotline when she could not bear feelings of depression.

When a male counselor answered the call, Ms. A, feeling unfamiliar, asked, "Is it possible to speak with a female counselor?" The counselor explained, "Due to high call volume, you would have to wait over an hour to be connected to a female counselor."

The phone counseling with the counselor continued for about 30 minutes. Since it was a reputable institution operated by the government, Ms. A trusted the counselor and confided even intimate stories.

The problem occurred around 10 p.m. that night. Ms. A received a message from a personal number starting with 010.

The sender, who identified themselves as "the person you spoke with during the early morning counseling," said, "Strangely, I never had these feelings before, but they keep lingering in my mind, so I’m texting you. Normally, counselors do not disclose their phone numbers, but I’m opening mine because I want to be a comfortable friend. If you feel down, texting or calling is fine. Would you like to be friends?"

However, since Ms. A had discussed sensitive topics, she felt uneasy knowing the counselor had her personal information. She strongly protested, asking the counselor never to contact her again. The counselor replied, "I just wanted to be friends." Later, the counselor sent an apology message saying, "I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable."

Ms. A also called the 1393 hotline to complain and reported the incident.

The counselor was a volunteer temporarily assigned to increase counseling response rates due to the rise in demand caused by COVID-19. It was reported that they had been working for about three months.

A representative from the counseling center said, "This is absolutely an unusual situation. Normally, when a client calls, their contact information appears on the computer monitor. This system is designed only to report to emergency services like 112 or 119 in case of emergencies, and using it for private contact is a violation of regulations."

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, which operates 1393, recognized the seriousness of the matter and dismissed the counselor involved.

Using personal information for private purposes without the consent of the individual can result in imprisonment for up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won.