Korea's primary, secondary and high school students suicide rate exceeds 200

(Oita Godo Newspaper, August 19^th 2010, Morning Paper, Page 6) 

In Korea, the suicide rate of primary school, high school and junior high school exceeds 200 people for the first time last year, and it caused an impact on society. According to the statistics that OECD tabulated, in the main industrial nations, Korea ranks number 1, with 21.5 killing themselves in every 100,000 people. The background of this is because education is emphasized in Korea and the competitions to get into good schools are fierce. According to the ministry of education, last year the students who committed suicide is 202, an increase of 137 people. The highest is high school students, at 140, followed by junior high school students, at 56, and primary school students at 6 people.  The reasons for suicide are "family problems" at highest, at 69, "Unsatisfactory grades" at 23. As compared to 2005, it is an increase of 2 times and it is said to be the stress that the entrance exam is stressful.

30 % of the people who committed suicide do not have a particular reason to do so.  The opposition party said that the government did not investigate thoroughly the suicide cases and hence prevention of suicide is taken lightly.

Comments

I think that the stress in Korea is really high, this was a problem in Japan too, but it seems that Japan has become a better country, with the slowing down of economy might be a good thing as Japanese do not have to be stress about staying competitive.

For me, I would rather live a life that is happy than to live a life that is stressful. But sometimes when circumstances force you to do so, you can only obey. But suicide is no shortcut; it is the end of the road. If you live , you have a fighting chance, but if you commit suicide then there will be nothing that you can do. Apart from that, your parents and friends will be sad to lose you. So the bottom line is, no matter how hard life hits you, never give up and do not commit suicide.  

Tay Zhong Jie Edwin

Singapore

Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, APM 4