"Tackling South Korea's high suicide rates" <click here to read this article>
Published: 2011 Nov 07
Accessed: 2012 Dec 06
Accessed: 2012 Dec 06
Summery of Article
South Korea has the largest suicide rate in the world where are at least 40 people committing suicide every day. Even though they have a booming economy and times are better since the Korean war the suicide rates have gone up over five times as much as the last generation. They think this is because so many people are leaving traditional values and moving to a more intense way of life where even young children work from early in the morning till late at night in hope to get a good job in the future. Many of the people there also do not take into account of mental illness or the effects of stress, blaming the depression and deaths as a sign of weakness in the others' minds. They are now starting to try to raise awareness of the increasing situation and to help those in need before it is too late.
My Thoughts on it
South Korea's harsh way of looking at things could highly be causing the suicide rate to rise. On top of the stress of long school hours and work, Korea is also into materialistic appearance. Many of my pen pals always talk about how they want to be pretty and how they are constantly getting criticized everyone, even their parents, on how they should have surgery to "fix it". When you tie in the stress of school, doing perfect to get into a university, constant criticism from peers, and such a fast moving country the stress could drive anyone to contemplate suicide. I am glad that they are trying to raise awareness and try to prevent some of it.
How It relates to Culture
The social culture in Korea is over the top Confucianism, work hard and don't procrastinate. this has a huge role in the way of life there. Their mentality to do their best in everything and to be the best in everything has had their country soar to be one of the most successful economies in the world.