Suicide rate among young Korean women nearly 4 times global average

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Korea has long carried the stigma of being the OECD country with the highest suicide rate, a problem previously seen as primarily affecting the elderly. However, a recent study reveals a troubling shift: Korean women in their 20s and 30s have the highest suicide rate in the world, while young Korean men rank second globally, raising concerns of a deepening mental health crisis among the country’s younger generations.

A research team led by Lee Yo-han of Korea University's College of Medicine analyzed suicide data from 55 countries between 2001 and 2020, using statistics from the World Health Organization and the United Nations. The findings were published in the international journal Preventive Medicine.

According to the study, South Korean women aged 20 to 39 had a suicide rate of 18.9 deaths per 100,000 people in 2020, the highest among all surveyed nations. This rate far exceeds that of Japan (12.0), the United States (6.8) and other advanced economies. Since 2016, suicide rates among young Korean women have surged by more than 8 percent annually, reaching nearly four times the global average for women in the same age group (5.07).

Previously, suicide in Korea was viewed primarily as an issue among the elderly. In 2009, the suicide rate among seniors reached 80 deaths per 100,000 people but has since been halved to around 40 in 2020, thanks to better public policies and social welfare initiatives.

By contrast, suicide among young adults and teenagers, once relatively moderate, has soared over the past decade, making Korea one of the most affected nations globally. For men aged 20 to 39, the 2020 suicide rate stood at 27.9 per 100,000, ranking second among surveyed countries behind Uruguay (43.5). However, unlike women, the increase among men has been less steep.

The research team attributed the sharp rise in suicides among young people to multiple factors, including unstable employment, housing insecurity, growing economic pressures, social expectations and the influence of media reporting on suicide.

Professor Lee stressed that the situation represents “a national crisis that can no longer be ignored,” urging policymakers to make suicide prevention among young people, particularly women, a top priority. He called for expanding access to mental health services, strengthening social safety nets for youth and women and ensuring responsible media practices when reporting on suicide.

If someone you know exhibits warning signs of suicide, contact Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. For foreign language assistance to connect with mental health professionals, call Danuri Portal's helpline at 1577-1366.

This article from Kormedi.com, Korea’s top health care and medical portal, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.