The Korea Herald

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Depression affecting 16% more Koreans in 5 years

By Yonhap

Published : Sept. 9, 2018 - 15:24

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The number of South Koreans treated for depression last year rose 15.8 percent from five years before, government data showed Sunday.

Some 681,000 patients were treated for depression last year, up from 588,000 tallied in 2012, according to the data compiled by the National Health Insurance Service. 


(Yonhap) (Yonhap)

While the number for women grew 12.1 percent from 406,000 to 455,000, the comparable figure for men jumped 24 percent from 182,000 to 226,000, the data showed.

Emotional fluctuation following hormonal changes due to menstruation, pregnancy and menopause are some of the factors leading to the high tally for women, according to experts.

"Child rearing, housework and a patriarchal society also seem to affect women's depression," said professor Park Jae-sub at NHIS Ilsan Hospital. "At the same time, the data could also mean that men are hiding their depression." (Yonhap)