[Initial Report] 36.6 Suicides Per Day... Let's Change the 'Life Paradigm'

No.1 Cause of Death Among 10-30s: 'Suicide'
Time for Change in a Society That Encourages Competition

Last year, the total number of deaths in South Korea reached 317,680, marking the highest figure since the cause of death statistics began in 1983, according to a Statistics Korea survey. The crude death rate, which indicates the number of deaths per 100,000 people, was 618.9, the highest since 1984 (585.2). Over 90% of the deaths were caused by diseases such as cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, and sepsis.

The problem lies in deaths caused by external factors other than diseases. The most representative is intentional self-harm (suicide). Last year, the number of suicide deaths totaled 13,352, an increase of 157 (1.2%) from the previous year. On average, 870 people died each day, of which 36.6 took their own lives. Suicide ranks among the top five causes of death in South Korea.

The dishonor of being called a “Suicide Republic” due to South Korea’s significantly high suicide rate compared to the international community is nothing new. Last year, South Korea again held the top spot. When Statistics Korea calculated the standardized mortality rate adjusted for age structure differences based on the OECD population standard, the suicide rate per 100,000 people last year was 23.6, more than double the OECD average of 11.1. The only countries with a suicide rate exceeding 20 were Lithuania (20.3 in 2020) and South Korea.

The bigger issue is the increasing trend of younger generations ending their own lives. The generation for which suicide is the leading cause of death in South Korea is none other than those in their teens to thirties. For those in their 40s and 50s, cancer is the leading cause of death, followed by suicide. Among 10-19-year-olds, corresponding to elementary, middle, and high school students, suicide accounted for 44% of deaths last year. For those aged 20-29, it was 57%, and for those aged 30-39, about 41%, with suicide overwhelmingly surpassing other causes. The suicide rates for teenagers (10.1%) and people in their twenties (8.5%) continued to rise last year. According to the “2022 Suicide Prevention White Paper” published by the Korea Life Respect and Hope Foundation under the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the suicide rate per 100,000 youth aged 9-24 has remained in double digits since 2020 (11.1).

[Image source=Yonhap News]

What is even more heartbreaking is the motive behind the suicides of young people who never had the chance to fully blossom. Statistically, “mental difficulties” are the most common cause. Despite the possibility of preventing extreme choices through care and healing rather than economic or physical reasons, the suicide rate continues to rise. While investing huge budgets in suicide prevention, as Japan does, can be expected to have policy effects, there are clear limitations.

When asked Kim Kyung-sung, a leading South Korean education scholar and former president of Seoul National University of Education, “What direction should be set to hand down a country where future generations can live happily without dying?” he replied, “It is time to change the paradigm of life.” Kim, who serves as the 8th chairman of the Blue Tree Foundation established in 1995 by a father who lost his son to school violence after quitting a major corporation, said, “Our entire society is showing symptoms of microaggression filled with competition and anger.” I share his emphasis on the paradigm shift awareness to slightly reduce South Korea’s suicide rate and prevent the collapse of the social community.

“Whether children or adults, it is time to stop competing like racehorses solely for studying and money and to take a pause. We must break the formula that material success equals social success and change our awareness both socially and individually. It is a distant but essential direction to take.” / Economy Department Deputy Chief Reporter Kim Hye-won kimhye@