A Society That Breeds Depression and Suicide

South Korea’s pressure to remain employable, healthy, successful and socially acceptable is creating what writer Kang Ji-na calls a society that drives depression and suicide.

The writer begins with reports of four people missing or dying in Jeju and examines available figures. About 70,000 adult missing-person reports are filed each year, with an average of more than 1,300 people later found dead. In 2023, 13,978 people died by suicide. The rate stood at roughly 27 to 29 deaths per 100,000 people, among the highest in the OECD.

A 2020 study from Asan Medical Center found that the suicide rate among people with depression was about 3.8 times higher than among those without it. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency said 11.6% of adults experienced depression severe enough to interfere with daily life in 2023.

Kang attributes the problem to a system of relentless competition that begins at school and continues into working life. People are expected to attend a reputable university, secure a stable job at a public institution or major company, obtain housing in the capital region, exercise, eat well, control their weight and build relationships that strengthen their prospects. Those who fail to manage this “human capital” risk being pushed aside as unqualified.

The commentary uses the television drama “Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness” to illustrate the fear behind that system. Its protagonist, Hwang Dong-man, has spent 20 years writing screenplays but repeatedly fails in competitions. He is mocked and isolated, while other characters struggle with inferiority, self-pity and anxiety. They all fear being branded worthless, a label that can cut people off from social recognition, resources and opportunities.

Kang calls this structure a “eugenic society” because it favors people whose human capital is well managed and excludes older people, disabled people, sexual minorities, poor people and young people outside school. Meditation and mindfulness may offer temporary comfort, the writer says, but individuals remain responsible for calming their own anxiety. The alternative is to recognize social connection and care for neighbors, including those who are ill, poor, elderly, inexperienced or difficult, because anyone may eventually face those conditions.