Emergency medical center at Seoul National University Hospital (123rf)
Emergency medical center at Seoul National University Hospital (123rf)

Nearly 30,000 people were treated at emergency rooms at major hospitals for injuries related to self-harm and suicide last year, National Emergency Medical Center data showed Sunday.

A total of 28,983 treatments were connected to attempts by patients to kill or harm themselves, according to the institute under the National Medical Center. The annual figure was down from 35,170 in 2024 and 46,359 in 2023.

The report included the 182 emergency medical centers that cover wider areas and provide professional medical services, including 29 regional emergency medical centers located at government-designated general hospitals. As of 2025, there were 530 ERs across the country, with 2,802 specialists working.

Of some 4.33 million cases of emergency treatment in 2025, around 76 percent (3.27 million) were related to diseases, while the rest were related to accidents and other causes. In 29,737 of the cases, the patent died despite receiving treatment.

Suicide decreases, but teen rate rises

As ER numbers indicate, South Korea has seen an overall decrease in the general suicide rate.

Last year's suicide rate fell to 27.8 per 100,000, down from 29.1 in the previous year. Suicide deaths between January and July this year were 7,432, also down from 8,475 during the same period in 2024, according to the Ministry of Data and Statistics.

Despite the general decrease, however, the teen suicide rate for last year marked 8.6 per 100,000, up from 8 in 2024. That was the highest figure since the government started keeping tally in 1983, rising for a fifth straight year since 6.5 per 100,000 in 2020.

The suicide rate for 2025 went down for all age groups except teens.

Student suicide deaths went from 148 in 2020 to 244 in 2025, according to the Ministry of Education.

Bong Yang-soon, a member of the Seoul City Council, urged the metropolitan government to employ comprehensive measures to safeguard the mental health of teens.

"It is crucial to set up an environment where teens can immediately ask for help and get counseling, before they fall into depression and isolation," she said Friday, calling for cooperation between agencies carrying out their own policies for teen mental health and counseling.

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If you’re thinking about self-harm or suicide, dial the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 109, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services.


minsikyoon@heraldcorp.com