Gov't finalizes 6th Suicide Prevention Basic Plan

The Korean government has officially approved a new package of suicide prevention measures, aiming to address a concerning trend in the nation's high suicide rates. This is the sixth Suicide Prevention Basic Plan, established every five years since 2004, with the goal of curbing the country's spiraling suicide statistics. The measures are intended to reduce the emotional factors that drive individuals to take their own lives and to provide psychological support and counseling to those at risk.

The sixth plan was finalized during a meeting of the suicide prevention policy committee, chaired by Prime Minister Han Seong-sook. The measures were instituted earlier than planned due to a sharp rise in suicide rates in 2024, which saw the country's rate jump to 29.1 deaths per 100,000 people, surpassing those of other developed nations.

Despite a slight decrease in 2025, with a rate of 27.8 deaths per 100,000, the country remains plagued by a high suicide toll, with 7,432 deaths reported between January and July of this year, a 12.3 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2024.