A recent seminar on suicide prevention in South Korea highlighted the need for an extensive national strategy to tackle the escalating suicide rates, which currently see the country losing 40 individuals daily. Experts underscore that it is not enough to simply reduce the overall suicide rates; rather, it is essential to pinpoint and intervene in specific age groups and regions facing heightened risks. The systematic support for individuals with prior suicide attempts and the families of victims is also seen as critical to addressing the issue adequately.

The seminar, held by the National Assembly’s Suicide Prevention Forum and attended by prestigious figures from various backgrounds, concluded that suicide is a structural social problem that necessitates a multi-faceted policy approach. Participants emphasized that suicide prevention should result from informed policy choices and that understanding the demographics and timing of suicide risks is more crucial than merely focusing on aggregate numbers. Academic discourse presented during the seminar indicated that South Korea's suicide rates have been notably high, particularly among young women, presenting a perturbing trend that reflects underlying societal issues exacerbated by instability in job markets during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Moreover, the analysis revealed a stark contrast in suicide rates among various age groups, with young women (under 20) witnessing a significant 37.7% increase between 2011 and 2021. As attention turned towards the elderly, it was noted that individuals aged 70 and above represent a chronic high-risk group due to factors related to poverty, chronic illness, and social isolation following the loss of a partner. The need to redistribute resources according to temporal and spatial patterns of suicide, with spikes observed during specific months and days, suggests a strategic reallocation of preventive measures is essential in combating this crisis effectively.