Suicide-related emergency calls received by police exceeded 120,000 last year, reaching the highest level in five years. While the monthly number of suicide deaths has been declining over the past five months, suicide-related reports — a warning signal detected in the field — have hit a five-year peak. Experts argue that the government must establish a national control tower, such as a "Suicide Prevention Agency," to pursue prevention policies more aggressively.
According to the Korean National Police Agency on Thursday, suicide-related 112 emergency calls totaled 120,816 last year. Following 120,747 cases in 2023, the figure surpassed 120,000 for the second time in two years, marking the highest level in the past five years. Suicide-related 112 calls rose from 107,511 in 2021 to 112,465 in 2022, and exceeded 120,000 for the first time in 2023. The number dipped slightly to 119,939 in 2024 before rebounding last year.
While the number of suicide deaths has recently shown a downward trend, the annual figure still far exceeds 10,000. According to the National Data Agency, preliminary figures show 13,774 suicide deaths last year. Although this is lower than the 14,872 recorded in 2024 — the highest in the past decade — the level remains elevated. The suicide rate, defined as the number of deaths from intentional self-harm per 100,000 people, was 29.1 in 2024, approaching 30.
Korea also continues to bear the ignominy of having the highest suicide rate among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). According to the "2026 Suicide Statistics Yearbook," Korea's suicide rate stood at 23.2 in 2022, the highest among OECD member nations. The figure is 28.9 percent higher than that of second-ranked Lithuania, at 18.0.
Experts point to lifelong competitive pressure and accumulated stress as key factors behind Korea's high suicide rate. A social atmosphere that demands fierce competition at every stage of life — from entrance exams to employment, promotion, and retirement preparation — is increasing mental strain, they say. According to the "2024 Psychological Autopsy Interview Results Report" published by the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention in October last year, every suicide death subject to psychological autopsy had experienced stressful events prior to death. The report analyzed the life events and psychological conditions of suicide victims through interviews with bereaved families conducted from May 2015 to December 2024.
A prolonged economic slump and livelihood burdens are also cited as factors that heighten suicide risk. According to the "2026 Suicide Statistics Yearbook," 2,817 people in their 40s — a core economically active generation — took their own lives. For the first time since related statistics began being compiled in 1983, suicide became the leading cause of death among those in their 40s. Among people in their 50s, 3,151 died by suicide, the highest figure across all age groups.
As Korea's high suicide rate has moved beyond being an individual issue to become a structural weakness in society, calls are growing to strengthen the national response system. Nah Jong-ho, assistant professor of psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, proposed establishing a "Presidential Secretary for Suicide Prevention" position that would report directly to the president. "Suicide prevention must be made the top national priority," he said. "We need an organization that can serve as a control tower, much like the Presidential Secretary for AI and Future Planning."
Earlier, President Lee Jae-myung also addressed the country's suicide rate on the 6th of this month, saying, "There is no greater national disgrace than this worldwide," and called for the formulation of suicide prevention measures. Related policy discussions are accordingly expected to gain momentum. The Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention plans to strengthen programs that identify high-risk individuals early and manage them in coordination with related agencies such as the National Fire Agency and the Korean National Police Agency, with the goal of reducing the suicide rate to below 17.0 by 2034.
