Ban Charcoal Briquettes to Prevent Suicide?…Government "Already Confirmed in 2019" (Comprehensive)

Bengae-tan sold at the Life Keeper Hope Store.

[Asia Economy Reporter Byeon Seon-jin] The government is facing public backlash after proposing a “ban on the production of beongaetan” as a suicide prevention measure. In response, the government explained that the beongaetan policy was finalized in 2019 and is only a very small part of various suicide prevention measures.

The controversy began at a public hearing held by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on the 13th to prepare the “5th Basic Suicide Prevention Plan (2023?2027).” At the hearing, the ministry stated that it would ban the production of beongaetan containing oxidizing ignition agents and continue to develop and distribute eco-friendly alternatives. This sparked criticism on social media and online communities, questioning whether banning beongaetan fundamentally prevents suicide.

Cases of suicide by gas poisoning, including beongaetan, increased by 51.3% over ten years, from 1,165 in 2011 to 1,763 in 2021. Since these cases account for 15% of annual suicide statistics, the government, aiming to reduce the suicide rate, has taken the step of banning production. A similar case is the highly toxic pesticide Gramoxone, whose production was halted in 2012, leading to a drop in suicide cases by more than half within ten years. However, unlike highly toxic pesticides, the development of beongaetan alternatives has been slow, making it difficult to immediately stop production and ban purchases starting next year. Currently, beongaetan has been included in the 2020 Suicide Means Notification, and its distribution online for suicidal purposes is subject to criminal penalties, while purchasers are managed through emergency rescue measures.

"Ban on production of beongaetan containing oxidizing ignition agents was finalized in 2019"

Regarding the 5th Basic Suicide Prevention Plan, which includes the ban on beongaetan production, opposition parties criticized it as “mocking the miserable lives of the people” (Lee Jae-myung, Democratic Party leader) and “ineffective” (Park Sung-jun, spokesperson). In response, the Ministry of Health and Welfare held a briefing to clarify. The ministry explained, “The ban on the use of beongaetan containing oxidizing ignition agents was scheduled to be implemented next year through the 2019 revision of the notification (by the Korea Forest Service).” The reason production has been possible until now is due to a grace period given for the time required to develop eco-friendly alternatives and to protect small-scale producers.

Lee Doo-ri, head of the Suicide Prevention Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, explained regarding the ban on beongaetan containing oxidizing ignition agents, “(If beongaetan is developed with other substances,) it will become inconvenient to use as a means of suicide or the lethality of suicide deaths will decrease.”

The ministry presented various suicide prevention measures but expressed difficulty as the controversy has focused solely on “beongaetan.” The ministry asked for comprehensive attention, noting that other suicide prevention measures include creating life-respecting safe villages, strengthening safety facilities on bridges where suicide attempts frequently occur, and shortening the intervals for mental health checkups.

The government will hold a joint suicide prevention policy working committee meeting with related ministries early next month, followed by a review by the Suicide Prevention Policy Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, and will finalize and announce the 5th Basic Suicide Prevention Plan around the end of March.