South Korea is grappling with its troubling suicide rates, which have significantly increased over the past few years, raising alarm among public health officials and citizens alike. According to recent statistics released by the National Statistical Office of South Korea and the Korea Life Respect Hope Foundation, the country recorded 14,439 deaths due to self-inflicted injuries in 2024, translating to nearly 40 suicides per day. This marks a troubling 3.3% increase from the previous year, continuing the worrying trend of rising suicide rates.
The issue of suicide has been particularly pressing for over a decade, with South Korea consistently ranking among the highest countries for suicide rates among the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. Although there had been some progress over the years, with the suicide rate falling below 13,000 annually around 2017 and 2022, recent findings indicate the numbers have started to creep higher once again.
For decades, the South Korean government and various stakeholders have worked to dismantle the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide, emphasizing the need for enhanced mental health care services. Early efforts led to the establishment of policies aimed at reducing suicide rates through education, intervention, and mental health resources. Unfortunately, the goals set for the years spanning from 2023 to 2033 to halve the rate of suicide from 2022 levels are increasingly feeling out of reach.
The demographic breakdown of the 2024 data reveals a stark reality: men are more than twice as likely to take their own lives compared to women. Among the recorded suicides, 10,341 were men and 4,098 were women. Alarmingly, male suicide rates exhibited a 6.1% increase from 2023, contrasting with the female suicide rate, which saw a minor decrease of 3.1%.
Age plays a significant role as well, with individuals aged 50 years accounting for 21% of all reported suicides, followed closely by those aged 40 (19%), 60 (16.5%), and 30 (13.4%). The most dramatic increase, and concerningly so, was seen among those in their 30s, whose suicide rates soared by 11.6% compared to previous years. Suicides peaked during the first quarter of 2024, particularly following the suicide of a well-known figure, exemplifying the so-called “Werther Effect,” whereby the death of a famous individual leads to increased rates of suicide.
Experts attribute the rising rates to various societal pressures, including job-related stress, workplace bullying, widening social inequality, and economic recession. The combination of these factors has left many feeling hopeless and overwhelmed, contributing to the uptick.
Meanwhile, the emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as an emotional companion has offered some hope, particularly among the younger population. Recently, survey results released by Embrain on February 26 indicate significant levels of trust among South Korean youth toward AI chat services. Approximately 38% of young individuals said they feel they can have meaningful emotional conversations with AI-generated chatbots. This figure is even higher among those in their 20s, hitting 42%. The survey, which sampled 1,000 citizens aged 13 to 59, highlighted the growing reliance on technology for emotional support.
A sizable portion of the respondents, 19.8% of youths and 17% of those in their 20s, indicated they would seek out AI for mental health guidance or personal claims. This use of AI is particularly popular among the young, likely due to their proficiency with technology. The survey showed high engagement, with 95% of teenagers and 84% of those in their 20s having interacted with chatbot platforms like ChatGPT, far surpassing the general average of 71.3%.
The positive impact of AI interactions on mental health is beginning to emerge from scientifically backed research as well. A study conducted by Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology and AI startup ScatterLabs found regular interactions with the AI chatbot Luda Lee 2.0 reduced loneliness by 15% and social anxiety by 18% among users. Despite these promising statistics, there is still notable skepticism among the population, with 69.6% of respondents expressing doubts about the reliability of AI-generated information. 83% of the surveyed individuals highlighted the importance of verifying AI outputs, with significant concerns about potential misinformation from deepfake technologies and copyright issues surrounding AI outputs.
With initiatives aimed at curbing the distressing rise of suicide rates combined with innovative approaches to mental health such as AI chatbots, South Korea continues to navigate the complex terrain of not just preventing suicides but also fostering healthier communication and coping mechanisms among its population.