Korea led OECD in suicides in 2009: report

Korea`s suicide rate in 2009 was the highest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Suicide is also the country’s leading cause of death in the young generation.

According to a report by the Health and Welfare Ministry released Monday on the occasion of Suicide Prevention Day, Sept. 10, 28.4 per every 100,000 people took their own lives in Korea, about 2.5 times the OECD average of 11.2.

The number of Koreans who committed suicide reached 15,413 in 2009, or an average of more than 42 people taking their own lives daily. The number was up 19.9 percent from 12,858 in 2008 and more than double from 7,056 in 1999.

Suicide was also the fourth-leading cause of death among Koreans in 2009 after cancer, cerebrovascular disease and heart disease, but was the No. 1 cause of death for people aged between 10 and 30.

29.5 percent of those who died between ages 10 to 19 in 2009 took their own lives, while 44.6 percent of deaths among people in their 20s was by suicide. Among people in their 30s, suicide accounted for 34.1 percent of deaths.