Suicides in Korea

A troubling LA Times op-ed about the rate of suicides in South Korea. The story, without attribution, says that the rate has more than doubled, from 11.8 per 100,000 people in 1995 to 26.1 per 100,000 in 2005. It's the No. 1 cause of death for South Korean men in their 20s. It mentions its rapid economic development as a possible reason. The national obssession for status and power may also be factors. One professor quoted in the story claims "Americans pushed (Korea) into modernity," but that Korea may not have been culturally ready. Not sure I agree with him, but there it is. I do recall that Koreans I met while I lived there were a stressed bunch - about careers, dealing with parental expectations, lack of earnings, too many hours at work, the hierarchical constraints, etc.
- Roger in DC