"Due to Childcare, Dual-Income, and Misogyny"... UK Media Highlights Suicide Rate Among Young Korean Women

"Need for Fundamental Measures" Pointed Out

A British media outlet pointed out that South Korea's suicide rate, which had been declining for years, is rising again due to an increase in suicides among young women. It analyzed that social discrimination against women and the heavy burden of roles at home and work have a significant impact.

On the 22nd (local time), the British weekly magazine The Economist reported that South Korea's suicide rate, which had been decreasing for 10 years, started to rise again from 2018 and surpassed Lithuania to rank first among OECD member countries. The Economist noted that during this period, the suicide rate among South Korean men did not increase, whereas the suicide rate among young women surged sharply.

On March 8, 2021, the 113th International Women's Day, members of the Feminism Party preparatory group and Moms Who Do Politics held a press conference in front of the Blue House Fountain in Jongno-gu, Seoul, urging the establishment of measures to prevent female suicide. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

Analyzing suicide rate statistics of women under 40 from 18 countries between 2018 and 202_, The Economist found that in South Korea, the rate sharply increased from 13.6 to 16 per 100,000 people. In contrast, the average suicide rate among the other 17 countries rose slightly from 4.6 to 4.7 per 100,000 people.

The Economist highlighted the seriousness by introducing cases where South Korean teenage girls broadcast their suicide attempts live on social networking services (SNS).

On the 16th of last month, a teenage student broadcast her suicide attempt from a building rooftop on SNS, and on the 5th, two teenage girls attempted suicide by broadcasting their attempt from Hannam Bridge but were rescued.

Last March, officials affiliated with the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions and civic groups participated in the International Women's Day march in front of City Hall Station, Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

The Economist pointed out that one of the causes of this increase in suicide rates is that "Korean society imposes contradictory expectations on women." It explained, "Korean women bear most of the housework and childcare at home, and as single-income households decrease, they are also expected to earn a living."

It added, "Although Korean women achieve excellent grades in the competitive Korean education system, they face discrimination at work and suffer from the stereotype that 'women should prioritize childcare over work.'" It also noted that young women are more likely to have unstable jobs.

Furthermore, it identified social attitudes toward women and an unstable society as factors, emphasizing that "Korean women are exposed to a culture that tolerates hateful practices such as gender-discriminatory appearance standards, misogyny, sexual abuse, and hidden camera pornography."

Regarding this, it criticized the government's recently announced '5th Suicide Prevention Basic Plan (2023?2027)' for not adequately addressing these issues. The media stated, "A more serious plan is needed to solve the fundamental causes of their suffering."

※If you have difficult concerns such as depression or know family or acquaintances experiencing such difficulties, you can receive 24-hour professional counseling at suicide prevention hotlines ☎1577-0199 / Hope Call ☎129 / Lifeline ☎1588-9191 / Youth Call ☎1388.

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