Over 1,600 Rescued Just Before Jumping from Han River Bridge 'SOS Lifeline'

▲Mapo Bridge railing

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] It has been revealed that more than 1,600 high-risk individuals on the verge of jumping were rescued through the 'SOS Lifeline' installed on bridges over the Han River.

On the 24th, an analysis of SOS Lifeline counseling data from 2011 to this year by the Life Insurance Social Contribution Foundation and Korea Lifeline showed that there were a total of 8,113 suicide crisis counseling cases over the past nine years. Among them, 1,595 high-risk individuals on the verge of jumping were rescued.

The bridge from which the most calls were made was Mapo Bridge with 5,242 calls (65%), followed by Hangang Bridge with 622 calls (8%), and Yanghwa Bridge with 358 calls (4%).

Among the callers, males accounted for 4,584 calls (56.5%), which was 1,601 more than females at 2,983 calls (36.8%).

The most frequent age groups using the service were people in their 20s (32.7%) and teenagers (30.8%), with 84% of teenage users being high school students aged 17 to 19.

Regarding counseling types, interpersonal relationship counseling related to difficulties in romantic relationships and workplace and social adaptation was the most common with 2,208 cases (22%), followed by concerns about career paths and mental burdens and pressures related to academics with 2,017 cases (20%).

The time period with the most calls was from 6 p.m. to midnight with 4,216 calls (52%), while from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. there were 1,267 calls (16%), showing a significant difference.

The SOS Lifeline is a counseling phone installed on Han River bridges to help turn around the minds of suicide crisis individuals who visit the Han River. Currently, 75 units are installed on 20 bridges, operating counseling calls 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In case of a crisis, rescue operations are conducted in cooperation with 119 rescue teams and the police.

Ha Sang-hoon, director of Korea Lifeline, said, "Suicide is a social problem that results from a complex interaction of personal, social, and institutional factors," adding, "Recently, due to the economic difficulties caused by the spread of COVID-19 and the prolonged non-face-to-face lifestyle, the number of people expressing anxiety, depression, and suicidal impulses is increasing."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.