One in 5 international student deaths in Korea suicides, spurring mental health calls
About 1 in 5 international students who died in Korea over the past six years took their own lives, fueling calls for stronger mental health support as their numbers in the country continue to grow. According to data the Ministry of Education submitted to Rep. Kim Moon-soo on Monday after surveying some 350 universities nationwide, 84 international students at Korean universities died between…
A recent study has revealed that approximately one in five international student deaths in South Korea have been attributed to suicide over the past six years, prompting calls for improved mental health support for these students as their numbers in the country continue to rise. According to data provided by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Kim Moon-soo, 84 international students at Korean universities died between 2021 and 2025, with accidents accounting for the majority of these deaths (34 cases), followed by illness (23), suicide (15), undetermined causes (7), and other causes (5).
The annual number of international student fatalities has fluctuated, ranging from 7 in 2023 to 21 in 2025, with 15 deaths recorded so far in 2025. In 2024, the death of an African graduate student at Chonnam National University was reported, adding to the growing concern for the mental well-being of international students in Korea.
Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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