British media “The increase in female suicide rates in Korean MZs is due to discrimination against women”

He pointed out that “fundamental countermeasures need to be prepared”

A British media outlet pointed out that Korea’s suicide rate, which had been declining for several years, is rising again due to an increase in suicides among young women. It is analyzed that social discrimination against women and heavy role burden at home and at work are having a big impact.

On the 22nd (local time), the British weekly magazine The Economist reported that Korea’s suicide rate, which had been declining for 10 years, increased again from 2018, surpassing Lithuania to become the number one member country in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The Economist pointed out that during this period, the suicide rate among Korean men did not increase, while the suicide rate among young women soared.

According to The Economist’s analysis of statistics on suicide rates for women under the age of 40 in 18 countries between 2018 and 202, the rate rose sharply from 13.6 to 16 per 100,000 in South Korea. On the other hand, the average suicide rate in 17 countries excluding Korea increased slightly from 4.6 to 4.7 per 100,000 people.

The Economist highlighted the seriousness by introducing a case in which the process of making extreme choices by Korean teenage women was relayed through SNS.

On the 16th of last month, a teenage student made an extreme choice on the roof of a building and relayed it on social media.

The Economist pointed out that “Korean society imposes contradictory expectations on women” as one of the reasons for this increase in suicide rates. He continued, “Korean women shoulder most of the housework and childcare at home, and as the number of single-income families decreases, they are expected to earn a living as well.”

He added, “Although she achieved excellent grades in the fierce Korean education system, (Korean women) are discriminated against at work and suffer from the prejudice that ‘women take care of children more than work’.” It also pointed out that young women are more likely to have precarious jobs.

In addition, he pointed out the social gaze toward women and the uneasy society as a factor, and emphasized that “Korean women are exposed to a culture that tolerates abhorrent practices such as sexist appearance standards, misogyny, sexual abuse, and hidden camera pornography.” .

In this regard, it was pointed out as a limitation that this issue was not properly addressed in the ‘5th Suicide Prevention Basic Plan (2023-2027)’ announced by the government last month. The media criticized that “a more serious plan is needed to address the root cause of their suffering.”

※If you have troubles that are difficult to talk about, such as depression, or if there are family members or acquaintances around you who are experiencing these difficulties, you can call the suicide prevention hotline ☎1577-0199 / Phone of Hope ☎129 / Phone of Life ☎1588-9191 / Youth Phone ☎1388 24-hour specialist can be consulted.