By John Q. Hosedrinker 
A recent study published in the Journal of the Korean Medical Association revealed that nearly 10 South Koreans aged 65 and older died by suicide daily between 2019 and 2023. The suicide mortality rate for this age group in 2023 was significantly higher than that of younger adults. Factors contributing to this issue include loss, financial stress, loneliness, and chronic illness, along with the use of more lethal methods. The study emphasizes the importance of training healthcare professionals to identify warning signs and recommends a collaborative approach to suicide prevention.
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Suicide crisis in South Korea: Nearly 10 aged 65+ take own lives each day is a stark reality, and understanding the root causes requires a look at South Korea’s rapid transformation. After the Korean War, the country was incredibly poor, but then it surged forward with incredible economic development. This rapid growth, however, brought with it significant cultural shifts and a range of social issues. This is one of the most tragic of them.
Traditionally, Korean society operated under a strong sense of familial responsibility. Parents invested heavily in their children, especially in education, with the expectation that these children would succeed, earn money, and eventually care for their aging parents. This system created a strong sense of obligation and interdependency.
However, this system began to break down with educational inflation. Nowadays, with nearly 90% of students attending college, the return on investment in education has diminished significantly. At the same time, economic stagnation and rising prices have made it incredibly challenging for the younger generation to financially support their parents. This has created immense strain.
As a result, many elderly people are now struggling financially, particularly those who invested heavily in their children’s education. The financial burden, coupled with a societal expectation of care that the younger generation often cannot meet, creates a climate of despair. It’s not hard to understand why so many elderly Koreans express feeling burdened, with some even expressing a wish to no longer live.
The situation is complicated by other factors as well. While it might seem simple, offering recreational activities like public dancing and card games to the elderly, as is common in places like China, isn’t necessarily a solution in itself. It’s important to consider that some of these people suffer from debilitating age-related illnesses that severely diminish their quality of life.
South Korea lacks assisted death options or the right to die with dignity, forcing individuals to resort to taking their own lives. The lack of such options, coupled with the financial pressures and the emotional burden of their situation, leads to tragically difficult choices. It’s a harsh reality that many elderly individuals see death as a way to end their suffering, rather than face the prospect of being a burden on their families or enduring a diminished quality of life.
It’s a complex issue and will likely worsen given the country’s low birth rate. As people are treated as commodities, the elderly who no longer contribute to the workforce are more likely to experience thoughts of self deletion. South Korea has a massive amount of cultural work to do in order to improve the lives of its people.
Healthcare costs in South Korea are also a significant factor. While general healthcare is of good quality and discounted for common ailments, major illnesses can become a financial catastrophe, especially for the elderly. If someone is facing a chronic illness, with rising medical bills, they can face a difficult choice: burden their children with debt, or take their own life to ease their family’s financial strain.
There’s also the issue of social safety nets. A robust social security system like those found in the US provides a baseline level of financial security for the elderly, reducing their reliance on their children. South Korea’s systems have traditionally been less developed, making the elderly more vulnerable.
The value of education is also a factor. The focus on higher education has created a system where the primary function of education is to signal an individual’s capacity to complete arbitrary tasks rather than to improve them. This system, rather than developing skills that make people more valuable, has trapped them in a cycle of debt and disappointment.
Ultimately, the suicide crisis in South Korea reflects the societal pressures, economic realities, and cultural shifts that have accompanied its remarkable economic progress. It’s a tragic consequence of a system that, in many ways, has left its elderly citizens feeling abandoned, financially strained, and without viable alternatives.