South Korea has seen a dramatic rise in suicides of economically strapped elderly people over the last two decades, a study revealed Wednesday, calling public attention to the dark aspects of the nation's rapidly aging society.
   
The suicide ratio for those aged over 65 jumped to 77 per
100,000 population in 2009, an over five-fold surge from 14
recorded in 1990, according to Hallym University's Institute of
Aging Studies.

   The surge is much higher than the suicide rate for the 15-34
age group that recorded about nine people per 100,000 in 2009, down
from 23 in 1990, the report said.
  
In the case of Japan with its population aging faster than any
other country, middle-aged people showed the highest suicide rate
among all age groups, while elderly females had become less
suicidal over the last 20 years, according to the study.
 
  "As our society has polarized since 2000, seniors who have lost
their economic power have found it hard to stand on their own
feet," Kim Dong-hyun, the author of the study, said. "I think sick
and isolated elderly who have no regular income are making extreme
decisions so as not to add burden on their children in this
nuclear, aging society."

   According to a report by Statistics Korea, the ratio of those
aged 65 or older to the nation's total population will likely grow
to 38.2 percent in 2050. The ratio is much higher than last year's
11 percent and 3.8 percent in 1980.

   "As a considerable number of seniors faces aging without much
preparation, senior suicides can become a social disaster in the
future," Kim added.

   To reduce suicides among the elderly, the government should
conduct inspections on the current senior welfare system and
prepare fundamental measures for depressed and suicidal elderly,
Kim said.

   South Korea ranks first in the suicide rate among the member
countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and
Development (OECD), with 24.3 people out of every 100,000 having
taken their own lives in 2008. (Yonhap News)