Presidential Office: "Suicide Rate to Be Reduced to Fewer Than 20 per 100,000 During Term"

Presidential Office Holds Performance Briefing on the 7th
Senior Secretary for Social Affairs: "Industrial Accidents Not Decreasing... Deep Regret to the Public"
Avoids Direct Answer to Concerns Over Legalization of Abortion

Kang Hoon-sik, Chief Secretary, is speaking at the meeting on the six-month achievements of President Lee Jae-myung's administration held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the 7th. Photo by Yonhap News

The Presidential Office announced on the 7th that it plans to reduce the suicide rate to fewer than 20 per 100,000 people over the next five years of the administration.

Moon Jin-young, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs at the Presidential Office, made this statement in response to a question regarding the “life-respecting policy direction of the Lee Jae-myung administration” during a press briefing on the six-month achievements of President Lee Jae-myung’s government held that day.

Moon pointed out, “Currently, our country has a suicide rate of 28 per 100,000 people, ranking overwhelmingly first among OECD member countries.” He added, “We will focus our suicide prevention policies on high-risk groups, suicide attempt survivors, and bereaved families, providing thorough and close support.”

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the number of suicide deaths last year was 14,439, averaging 39.6 per day. The suicide rate per 100,000 people was 28.3, surpassing 28 for the first time since 2013 (28.5). The suicide rate had steadily increased since the early 2000s, peaked at 31.7 in 2011, then began to decline, but has recently started to rise again.

However, when asked about concerns from religious groups and civil society regarding the legalization of abortion, Moon avoided a direct answer, stating, “We will seek a balanced approach that respects both the value of life and women’s rights.”

Regarding industrial accidents, Moon said, “We feel deeply sorry for the continued lack of improvement,” and added, “Even though the President has repeatedly emphasized this issue, it has not improved, and as someone assisting him, I am ashamed.”

Moon continued, “The government announced a comprehensive industrial safety plan in September and is making step-by-step preparations, but the reality does not seem to reflect this. In particular, the number of accidents is not decreasing at small-scale workplaces, especially in construction sites with fewer than 50 employees or projects under 500 million won.”

He pledged, “The government will more rigorously manage the Safe Workplace Project and ensure thorough industrial safety measures for 26,000 high-risk workplaces.”

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