South Korea to delete and block online suicide content

South Korea is moving to create a legal framework that will mandate the immediate deletion or blocking of online content deemed to incite suicide. The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced that it is currently undergoing a legislative preview period for an amendment to the Suicide Prevention Act, which will extend until October 16.

This initiative stems from a mandate within the higher law, which delegates the regulation of monitoring activities related to suicide-inciting information to a presidential decree. Under the proposed amendment, internet service providers will be required to delete or block such content. They will also need to restrict users from searching for or transmitting this information to others.

Furthermore, service providers must submit a report on their actions to the Minister of Health and Welfare by the end of the following month. The Ministry anticipates that this systematic management and prevention of harmful information will significantly contribute to suicide prevention efforts and promote a culture that values life.

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This will contribute to suicide prevention and the creation of a culture of life respect through systematic management and prevention of the distribution of suicide-inciting information.