Jennifer Mendoza
Research expert covering health, pharma and medtech
Mental health in South Korea - statistics & facts
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10 and 39 years in South Korea. It is the country with the highest suicide rate in the world. Commonly cited reasons for committing suicide were mental or physical illness as well as financial difficulties. In 2023, severe stress was the most common mental health issue, while only one in four reported not having experienced any mental health problems that year.
Demographic disparities in mental health
Certain patterns have emerged regarding mental health across different demographics in South Korea. Women more frequently reported mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety compared to men, while more men reported struggling with substance abuse and addiction. There were also age-related differences present in the country, particularly related to technology. Internet and smartphone addiction is a hot topic in mental health discussions in South Korea. This particularly affects younger age groups, with teenagers showing the highest rates of smartphone overdependence.Access to mental healthcare
According to a survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the rate of accessing mental healthcare fell to 11.5 percent in 2021. In the preceding years, the rate of people making use of available mental health services had been steadily increasing. Many medical facilities limited their opening hours and availability to patients due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which may have discouraged patients from seeking help. Among people who were actively working on improving their mental wellness, only eight percent went to in-person or digital counseling or therapy.Growing mental health crisis in South Korea
While awareness and resources for people struggling with their mental health in South Korea have been increasing in recent years, so has the number of sufferers. This can partially be attributed to more people openly seeking help. However, numerous lasting social problems, ranging from academic and economic pressure to bad work-life balance and a looming demographic crisis create a various sources of stress for the local population.
