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| A message on Mapo Bridge reads, "You are a good person," in this 2018 photo. Seoul City put phrases on the handrails of the bridge in an effort to discourage potential suicide attempts but removed them in 2019. Korea Times file |
By Bahk Eun-ji
The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) will review whether to keep messages on the handrails of the Hangang Bridge aimed at discouraging people from attempting to kill themselves, amid questions over the effectiveness of the messages in suicide prevention.
According to the city government, Sunday, metropolitan authorities initially planned to remove all of the messages on the bridge when it removed one written by former Mayor Park Won-soon, who killed himself last July amid sexual harassment allegations raised against him. But the Seoul Metropolitan Council requested a review of the effectiveness of the entire campaign.
The suicide prevention message campaign on bridges over the Han River began in 2012 after many people began taking their own lives by jumping from them.
As a part of the campaign, the SMG collected messages of hope and other positive thoughts from citizens and posted them on the guardrails of Mapo Bridge in 2012, with lights making the words clearly visible to pedestrians.
Unlike the phrases on Mapo Bridge recommended by citizens, the phrases on Hangang Bridge were written by 44 celebrities, such as soprano Jo Su-mi, actor Ha Jung-woo, and singer Lee Hyo-ri in 2013.
However, as questions were raised on their effectiveness in preventing suicide, the city government removed all of the messages on Mapo Bridge in October 2019. The city council requested a review as the SMG planned to remove the messages on the Hangang Bridge.
"A detailed plan will be established based on consultation with an advisory group in March," an SMG official said.
Besides the review, the city is also installing higher fences on the Hangang Bridge, which it believes are more effective in reducing the number of suicide attempts.
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