South Korea’s Silent Health Crisis

Suicide is now the primary cause of death for all South Koreans under age 40. Remarkably, it has even overtaken cancer as the leading killer of adults in their forties.

While suicide rates are often associated with the elderly, the demographic impact in South Korea has shifted dramatically toward younger generations. For those in their twenties, it accounts for more than half of all total deaths. This trend highlights a severe societal pressure that cuts across age groups. It serves as a stark reminder of how rapidly public health priorities can transform within a single nation.