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Cancer remained the leading cause of death in South Korea in 2023, with the rate of deaths resulting from malignant neoplasms standing at per 100,000 inhabitants. While various health conditions were common causes of death, suicide was a stand-out.

Improvements in cancer treatments

The five-year survival rate for cancer patients in South Korea reached **** percent in 2022, a substantial increase from 1996. This improvement comes with medical advancements concerning both treatment and diagnostics. Simultaneously, more and more South Koreans have elected to undergo cancer screenings, which helps with preventative treatments as well as early diagnosis and intervention. However, such advancements did not happen evenly, but rather still depend heavily on the type of cancer. Thyroid cancer patients had the highest five-year relative survival rate in 2022, while pancreatic cancer patients faced the lowest at only **** percent.

High suicide rates

Suicide remains a significant issue in South Korea, particularly among the elderly. The suicide rate in 2023 was highest among those aged 80 years and older, at **** deaths per 100,000 population. Poverty among senior citizens was a major contributing factor, while mental and physical illness were other common reasons among the general population. Despite this, it was among the younger population that suicide was the leading cause of death in 2023. While there have been both private and public initiatives surrounding mental health and suicide, as well as the attached stigma, South Korea still has one of the highest suicide rates worldwide.