South Korean President Lee Jae-myung urged citizens to 'keep living' amid a decline in suicides
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung addressed citizens on the social network X, urging them not to give up on life and to seek help from professionals. According to official data, 14,144 people died by suicide in the country in 2025; the rate fell from 29.1 to 27.8 per 100,000 population but remains the highest in the OECD. From January to July 2026, the number of such deaths decreased by 12.3%. The government approved a prevention program through 2030 aimed at reducing the rate to 18.9.

















