Teen suicides keep rising as school stress takes toll

A tragic incident in Busan involving the deaths of three art high school students who left behind a message about academic and career-related stress has reignited national concern over the mental health of teenagers. As Korea sees a steady increase in youth suicides, experts point to extreme academic pressure and a culture that discourages emotional expression as key contributing factors. The three students, all aspiring dancers, died on Saturday in what authorities suspect was a group suicide. Their note cited the emotional toll of academic and career concerns. According to Statistics Korea, the suicide rate among teens reached 7.9 per 100,000 people in 2023, the highest on record. While suicide rates for most other age groups have fallen since 2011, the rate for teens has climbed from 5.5 to 7.9. “Academic and college entrance stress” remains the most common reason for suicidal ideation among teenagers, according to a Statistics Korea social survey. Last year, 4.5 percent of respondents aged 13 to 19 reported having suicidal thoughts, with 32.9 percent citing school performance or eWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times