Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Mental health hotline will be installed at Seoul Forest, broadening SOS lifeline's reach

A mental health hotline will be installed at Seoul Forest in Seongdong District, eastern Seoul, the nonprofit Life Insurance Philanthropy Foundation said Wednesday.

2026-04-29

3 in 10 of out-of-school youths struggle with mental health issues, survey finds

About three in 10 out-of-school youths in Korea have experienced depression or social withdrawal, with many struggling to find a career path after leaving school.

2026-04-26

Creator of suicide prevention phone system reflects on impact for 15th anniversary

Park Seong-min led the creation of SOS Life Line, a privately operated suicide prevention system through which those in crisis can call for help. The service marks its 15th anniversary this year.

2026-04-10

Insurance firms launch new mental health products as demand continues to rise

The number of people in Korea focusing on their mental health is rising. In response, insurance firms are rapidly launching new products that cover mental illness.

2026-04-09

Drugged driving crackdown has prescribed drivers concerned

As Korea prepares to enforce stricter penalties on drug-impaired driving this week, patients taking medication for psychiatric conditions are growing worried that their treatment could get them in trouble on the road.

2026-04-01

Psychological autopsies to be expanded to adolescent cases as suicides rise

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.

2026-03-20

Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, U.S. court filings allege

Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a class action by U.S. school districts.

2025-11-23

Notorious child rapist attempts to leave home without permission

Cho Doo-soon, a convicted child rapist, attempted to leave his residence without permission again last month while showing signs of worsening mental health, according to Yonhap News Agency on Thursday.

2025-11-13

Suicide the top killer as Koreans in their 40s endure financial burdens, cultural expectations

Last year marked the first time in Korea that suicide was the primary cause of death among people in their 40s — especially among men of that age group, who experience suicide rates more than double those of women.

2025-10-30

Depression, anxiety rampant inside ministry charged with Koreans' mental health

More than 70 percent of officials at the Ministry of Health and Welfare — the government ministry in charge of curbing Korea's suicide rate — are at risk of mental health issues, including depression, anxiety and insomnia.

2025-10-14