South Korean adolescent suicide rate trends

Research and legislative data indicate a concerning trend regarding adolescent suicide in South Korea. A study by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs identified correlations between residential environments and suicide rates, noting that higher housing prices, larger living spaces, and better access to public infrastructure are associated with lower rates. The study also highlighted that out-of-school youth face a suicide rate approximately 18 times higher than students currently enrolled in school.

Concurrently, data from the National Assembly's Education Committee shows a steady increase in student suicides, rising from 194 in 2022 to 244 in 2025. High school students comprise nearly 60% of these fatalities. Challenges in addressing the crisis include a lack of information, with roughly 30.5% of cases between 2022 and mid-2026 classified as ‘cause unknown’, and a significant shortage of professional counseling staff, which were present in fewer than 50% of schools when including visiting counselors.