Seona Jung, Social Worker at the Life Love Crisis Response Center, Hanyang University Hospital. Hanyang University Hospital
"My professional experience in managing high-risk suicide groups made me instinctively react."
It was belatedly revealed that Jung Seona, a social worker at the Life Love Crisis Response Center of Hanyang University Hospital, saved a life at the scene of a suicide attempt.
According to Hanyang University Hospital on July 29, in the early morning of July 11, social worker Jung was crossing Mapo Bridge with a friend when she happened to witness someone attempting to take their own life. She immediately rushed to the scene, grabbed the person, and pulled them back, successfully rescuing them. Furthermore, Jung and her friend physically restrained the individual, who continued to struggle and tried to jump again for about ten minutes until rescue personnel arrived. Thanks to their efforts, they were able to protect a precious life.
Jung Seona recalled, "At first, I thought the two people were just talking and looking at the railing, but as we got closer, one suddenly put their foot on the railing and tried to jump off," adding, "I instantly sensed it was a suicide attempt, and my only thought was that I had to stop it no matter what. I think my professional experience of facing suicide attempters every day made me react instinctively."
The Life Love Crisis Response Center at Hanyang University Hospital, where Jung works, is the only institution in Seoul with a 24-hour emergency response system. Since its opening in 2017, it has provided post-management care for more than 500 suicide attempters each year. Because suicide attempters who visit the emergency room are at the highest risk of reattempt within the first four weeks, the center focuses on intensive management during this period and establishes tailored long-term recovery support systems for each individual through psychiatric treatment or connections with community organizations.
In addition, the center continues to lead proactive responses and prevention efforts for high-risk suicide groups by carrying out suicide prevention campaigns, case analyses, and related research. As a result of these efforts, the rate of repeated suicide attempts has noticeably decreased since the center's opening, and in 2021, the center was awarded a commendation from the Minister of Health and Welfare for its contribution to suicide prevention.
Jung Seona said, "While working here, I meet many visitors, and sometimes I regain strength thanks to those who express their gratitude. This experience made me realize once again how important my work is in saving someone's life, and I sincerely want to continue helping so that someone's life can be connected to hope."
If you are experiencing depression or have concerns that are difficult to talk about, or if you have a family member or acquaintance struggling with such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour expert counseling through the suicide prevention hotline ☎109 or the suicide prevention SNS counseling service 'Madeullaen.'
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