ed Shameful record

Resolute action needed to address suicide problem

Korea is one of the few countries in the world that have achieved both economic development and political democracy in such a short period of time. In this process, however, there are a lot of things that can cause Koreans to be ashamed.

Of these, nothing is worse than Korea’s suicide rate ranking first for the eighth consecutive month among the 34 member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), the economic club of rich nations.

Korea’s suicide rate stood at 33.5 per 100,000 in 2010, 2.6 times higher than the OECD average of 12.8.

A more recent report on deaths by Statistics Korea showed that 15,905 Koreans killed themselves last year, equivalent to 43.6 people a day. Suicide was the fourth highest cause of death here, following cancer, cerebral vascular disease and heart problems. It was the No. 1 cause of death among teens and those in their 20s and 30s.

Policymakers are puzzled about why Korea’s rate is so high despite its spectacular economic progress over the past few decades and are racking their brains to pinpoint the socioeconomic factors behind these rampant suicides.

It’s relatively easy to analyze suicide among those over 65. In 2010, the suicide rate for senior citizens was 81.9 per 100,000 persons, about 2.4 times the overall rate and four to five times higher than in Japan and the United States. Poverty, illness and social isolation were cited as major causes of suicide among the elderly

The problem among adolescents is serious, too. According to the National Evidence-based Healthcare Collaborating Agency, of the 1,034 aged 15 to 19 who died in 2010, 292 or 28 percent took their own life, more than double the 13.6 percent in 2000. School violence, bullying and conflict with family members and friends were major causes that drove adolescents to kill themselves.

No less serious are disparities in suicide rates by region. In 2010, the suicide rate in Seoul was the lowest at 24.3 per 100,000 persons, compared with 36.9 in South Chungcheong Province. But Gyeryong City in South Chungcheong boasted the lowest suicide rate with 14.5 among local autonomous bodies, compared with 59.2 in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province.

Strangely enough, the suicide rate among primary and secondary school teachers nearly doubled in 2011 from the previous year. According to the education ministry, a total of 31 primary, middle and high school teachers gave up on life, up from 17 the previous year.

Most worrisome is that while suicide rates have decreased in many developed countries, it has increased here rapidly. Against this gloomy backdrop, the government needs to be more proactive in addressing the problem. But its countermeasures are disappointing, given that the government spends only $1.7 million annually on suicide prevention.

More than anything else, the central government should cooperate with local governments, police stations and hospitals to provide special education and preventive measures especially in poverty-stricken regions.