South Korean student suicide rates rise amid counseling shortages

Student suicide rates in South Korea have shown a steady increase over the past three years. According to data released by Representative Seo Bum-soo of the National Assembly's Education Committee, the number of elementary, middle, and high school student suicides rose from 194 in 2022 to 244 in 2025. In the first half of this year alone, 112 deaths were recorded.

Gyeonggi Province reported the highest number of student suicides last year, with 51 deaths, accounting for approximately 20.9% of the national total. High school students represented the largest group, making up nearly 60% of the fatalities.

Concerns have been raised regarding the inability to identify specific causes for many deaths. Between 2022 and June of this year, 300 cases—roughly 30.5% of the total—were classified as 'cause unknown' due to insufficient information in school reports.

Furthermore, there is a significant shortage of professional counseling staff in schools. As of April last year, professional counseling teachers were present in only 42.5% of the nation's 12,167 schools. Even when including visiting counselors, the placement rate reached only 49.6%. Representative Seo called for more effective measures, including scientific analysis of suicide causes and the expansion of specialized counseling personnel.