HIGH SUICIDE RATES IN SOUTH KOREA

In Seoul a bronze statue of a person comforting another is seen on the Mapo Bridge, 'Bridge of Life' (referred as Bridge of Death before) - as part of a campaign to reduce suicide rate on the bridge

Suicide is the leading cause of death in South Korea among teens and those in their 20s and 30.  More than 15,000 South Koreans commit suicide every year - that's about 43 people  taking their own life every day.

South Korea's suicide rate has been the highest among developed nations for the past 9 years. That may have something to do with the intense pressure on Koreans to succeed at school and on the job.

According to the director of the Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention, Professor Paul Yip, the media should explain the issues surrounding mental illness to curb the rates of suicide.

Korean cultural expert Dr Roald Maliangkay, from the Australian National University, said TV soap operas often depict suicide in their storylines, thereby fostering romantic notions on the subject. Furthermore, it is the culture of  Korea, Japan and China to discourage people from seeking help for psychological issues.

In the past eight years, more than 10 public figures have killed themselves (including professional footballers, Korean pop stars, movie actors and a former president).

The Late Choi Jin-Sil (1968-2008)

Adding to the tragedy is the large number of copycat suicides that follow public figures's cases. There was a 70 per cent spike in the number of suicides in the three months after South Korean popular actress, Choi Jin-Sil, took her life in 2008.

In 2010, the nation was shocked again when the late Ms Choi's brother, Choi Jin Young, took his own life. Choi was discovered hanging by police at his home in southern Seoul. He was rushed to the Gangnam Severance Hospital, but pronounced dead.

The late Choi Jin Young

On Sunday, 6th January 2013, the suicide of late Ms Choi's husband, Cho Sung-Min hit the headlines in South Korea. Cho Sung-Min was a famous South Korean baseball star. He was found dead with a belt around his neck in the bathroom at his girlfriend’s apartment.  What makes the story a family tragedy is that this was the third suicide in the family.

The Late Cho Sung-Min

The experts wants South Koreans to change their  mind-set and start talking about this issue openly because this is no longer someone's else problem, but something that could affect every household.

In the past 5 years, the Mapo Bridge in Seoul has witnessed more than 100 suicide attempts and about half of that have successfully taken their own lives by jumping off the bridge. Mapo Bridge is one of the 25 bridges spanning the Han river which divides Seoul.

Last year the Seoul City Government turned the bridge into a 'Bridge of Life' in South Korea anti-suicide efforts. There are pictures of smiling babies on the rail. 

Pictures of babies on the rail

At the center of the bridge is a bench with a brass statue of a stooped young man, being comforted with a pinch on the left cheek by a grandfatherly looking gentlemen.

They are also bridge signs messages. The inspirational slogans say things like, “how are you doing,” “Isn’t it nice to be walking on a bridge,” and “Did you eat anything yet?” 

It’s a unique approach to suicide prevention in the country has one of the highest suicide rates in the world.

A message written on the guardrail of Seoul's Mapo Bridge asks "Do you have a secret?"

But not everyone is impressed by the Bridge of Life and its positive messages.

Dr. Kim Hyun-chung, a psychiatrist at the National Medical Center in Seoul, concedes that at least the government is trying to address Korea’s suicide problem. But she says depressed people need more help than just positive messages on light-up guardrails.

Kim says maybe suicide attempts at the Mapo Bridge will go down now, but if someone is really determined to jump to their death, there are plenty of other bridges across the Han River.