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Psychological autopsies to be expanded to adolescent cases as suicides rise

Published: 20 Mar. 2026, 15:59

A statue named ″Once Again″ at Mapo Bridge in Seoul is pictured on Sept. 25, 2025. [NEWS1]

Korea will begin conducting psychological autopsies on adolescent suicide cases from next year, expanding a system previously used only for adults to better understand the causes of rising teenage suicides.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family and the National Police Agency signed a memorandum of understanding in Seoul on Friday to launch the joint initiative and support evidence-based suicide prevention.

A psychological autopsy involves interviews with bereaved families and acquaintances, along with analysis of counseling and other records, to identify and verify the causes of suicide. Authorities conducted 1,602 such cases between 2015 and 2025.

Under the plan, the Health Ministry will lead the project and develop interview tools this year. The assessment will take into account adolescent-specific factors such as developmental history, peer relationships, school life and internet and gaming use.

The education and gender ministries will collect and provide data on students and out-of-school adolescents, while the police will assist by sharing investigative materials including contact details of bereaved families.

“As suicides among teenagers have increased, there have been growing calls to actively conduct psychological autopsies," said Park Jeong-woo, director of the Health Ministry’s suicide prevention policy division.

"The budget was allocated late last year, and with this agreement, each ministry will provide active support as the project gets underway in earnest," Park said.

A suicide prevention hotline installed at Mapo Bridge in Seoul is seen on Sept. 25, 2025. [NEWS1]

Youth suicide indicators have shown a steady rise in recent years. The number of suicide deaths among those aged 19 and under increased to 392 in 2025, a provisional figure, from 372 in 2024, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics. The suicide rate for teenagers rose from 5.5 per 100,000 in 2011 to 8 in 2024.

Experts say factors such as social media dependence, family breakdown and academic pressure contribute to the trend.

Psychological autopsies for student suicides had previously been conducted on a limited basis but were suspended for several years.

Hong Hyun-ju, a psychiatry professor at Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, said autopsies can help identify risk factors that are not immediately visible.

“Many adolescents who die by suicide tend to be avoidant and compliant, with few outwardly visible problems," Hong said. "Psychological autopsies are needed to explore hidden risk factors that are not easily detected.”

“Youth suicide is not an individual issue but a structural problem that society as a whole must address," said Lee Hyung-hoon, second vice minister of health and welfare. "Through psychological autopsies, we will identify hidden warning signs and develop prevention policies based on scientific evidence.”

If you or someone you know is feeling emotionally distressed or struggling with thoughts of suicide, LifeLine Korea can be contacted at 1588-9191 or the Crisis Counseling Center at 1577-0199. The Seoul Global Center offers English-language counseling, contact 02-2075-4180 (+1) to arrange a session. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY JUNG JONG-HOON [[email protected]]