Gwangju City Council Member Jung Daeun Warns of Sharp Rise in Suicides Amid Economic Hardship

411 Suicides Last Year... 53 More in Two Years
Proportion of Economic Causes Rises from 23.5% to 31.6%
"Effective Measures for Economically Vulnerable Groups Urgently Needed"

Jung Daeun, Gwangju City Council Member.

The number of suicides in the Gwangju area has increased over the past three years, with a particularly sharp rise in suicides due to economic reasons.

Jung Daeun, a member of the Environment and Welfare Committee of the Gwangju City Council (Democratic Party of Korea, Buk-gu District 2), pointed out during the Welfare and Health Bureau's settlement review on June 9, 2025, that "Gwangju City's suicide prevention policies lack effectiveness, and there is a need to strengthen tailored support measures for vulnerable groups affected by the economic crisis."

The number of suicides in Gwangju has steadily increased, surpassing 400 for the first time last year. By year, the figures were 358 in 2022, 388 in 2023, and 411 in 2024.

In particular, the proportion of suicides due to economic reasons rose from 23.5% in 2022 to 31.6% in 2024. Middle-aged adults aged 40 to 59 accounted for 40% of all suicides.

The city spent approximately 2.2 billion KRW on suicide prevention projects over the past three years, and in 2024 alone, invested about 900 million KRW in six projects, including the management of the mental health emergency response system.

Jung Daeun expressed concern, saying, "The increase in suicides due to economic factors stems from complex social crises such as job insecurity. Unfortunately, ongoing negative events in the local community, such as Daewoo Winia's court receivership and the Kumho Tire fire, may cause the risk of rising suicide rates to become a reality within a few years."

Jung Daeun also emphasized, "Efforts on the ground alone have limitations in reducing the suicide rate. It is necessary to strengthen tailored measures for the middle-aged and economically vulnerable groups, and to establish a sustainable social safety net."