South Korea recorded its highest-ever teenager suicide rate in 2023, as academic stress, social isolation, and online contagion converge in a national tragedy.
At a Glance
- Teen suicide rate hit 7.9 per 100,000 in 2023—the highest level on record.
- South Korea leads the OECD with 28.3 suicides per 100,000 overall in 2024.
- Suicide ranks as the leading cause of death for ages 10–39.
- Academic stress is a contributing factor in 12% of teen suicides.
- Copycat suicides, often following celebrity cases, account for 5% of youth deaths.
Pressure Cooker Teens
Statistics Korea reports a sharp rise in teen suicides from 5.5 to 7.9 per 100,000 in 2023—a record high. South Korea also ranks first in the OECD with 28.3 suicides per 100,000 residents in 2024, as confirmed by the Korea Herald. Suicide is now the top cause of death for individuals aged 10–39, including more than half of fatalities among people in their twenties, according to Wikipedia.
The nation’s infamous cram schools, or “hagwons,” push students into 13-hour academic marathons, with burnout and sleep deprivation rampant. An estimated 12% of teen suicides stem from this relentless academic pressure, as noted in Ballard Brief research. Added to this is the rise of “godoksa,” a phenomenon of extreme social withdrawal, exacerbated by digital isolation and economic despair.
Watch a report: Teen suicides keep rising as school stress takes toll
Copycat Tragedies & Cultural Echo
Korean media coverage of celebrity suicides—such as K-pop star Jonghyun—has a well-documented ripple effect. Roughly 5% of youth suicides mirror high-profile deaths, per Wikipedia on copycat suicides. This tragic pattern, intensified by sensational reporting, raises concerns among mental health professionals.
To counter the isolation crisis, the Seoul government launched a $322 million “Seoul Without Loneliness” plan. Yet experts interviewed by Business Insider warn it fails to address structural problems like housing stress, unemployment, and toxic academic culture.
National Crisis, Global Warning
South Korea’s youth suicide crisis—once an outlier among older adults—has become a generational emergency. Suicide rates among teens have climbed steadily since 2011, while adult rates declined, according to the Korea Times. With a national suicide rate nearly double the OECD average, the nation’s high-pressure education system, digital alienation, and mental health stigma have created a lethal storm.
Proposed solutions include expanding school-based mental health services, limiting hagwon hours, and regulating media reporting standards. But reform faces resistance in a culture that equates academic achievement with national identity. As the crisis deepens, South Korea must decide whether it can protect its young—or risk losing them to ambition.
