South Korea to allow 109 suicide prevention calls despite unpaid phone bills

South Korean authorities are expanding access to the suicide prevention hotline, 109, by designating it as an emergency communication service. This change ensures that individuals can connect to the hotline even if their mobile phone outgoing calls have been suspended due to unpaid telecommunication bills.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced that the new system will be prioritized for implementation starting October 1, ahead of the formal completion of administrative notice revisions. To facilitate this, the government is accelerating the legislative process and working with telecommunications companies to develop the necessary systems.

Additionally, mobile device manufacturers will add 109 to the emergency call list, allowing users to connect to the hotline directly from a locked screen.

In conjunction with these policy changes, various suicide prevention initiatives are being launched. The Korea Suicide Prevention Foundation is collaborating with several private companies and institutions—including KT, Korea Railroad Corporation, and Naver—to conduct life-respect campaigns across public spaces, online platforms, and even through product packaging to spread awareness and support information.