In 2023, the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 39 years in South Korea was suicide, which accounted for*************** of all deaths among people in their twenties. The leading cause of death among people over 40 was cancer.

Cancer remained the leading cause of death in South Korea in 2023, with the rate of deaths resulting from malignant neoplasms standing at ***** per 100,000 inhabitants. While various health conditions were common causes of death, suicide was a stand-out. Improvements in cancer treatments The five-year survival rate for cancer patients in South Korea reached **** percent in 2022, a substantial increase from 1996. This improvement comes with medical advancements concerning both treatment and diagnostics. Simultaneously, more and more South Koreans have elected to undergo cancer screenings, which helps with preventative treatments as well as early diagnosis and intervention. However, such advancements did not happen evenly, but rather still depend heavily on the type of cancer. Thyroid cancer patients had the highest five-year relative survival rate in 2022, while pancreatic cancer patients faced the lowest at only **** percent. High suicide rates Suicide remains a significant issue in South Korea, particularly among the elderly. The suicide rate in 2023 was highest among those aged 80 years and older, at **** deaths per 100,000 population. Poverty among senior citizens was a major contributing factor, while mental and physical illness were other common reasons among the general population. Despite this, it was among the younger population that suicide was the leading cause of death in 2023. While there have been both private and public initiatives surrounding mental health and suicide, as well as the attached stigma, South Korea still has one of the highest suicide rates worldwide.

In 2023, neoplasms were the most common cause of death in South Korea, leading to 87,112 fatalities. This was followed by diseases of the circulatory system, which accounted for about 67,554 deaths.

In 2022, the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 years old in South Korea was suicide, resulting in approximately **** deaths per 100,000 population. Suicide has been the primary cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 in South Korea for the past few years.

Abstract Background: This study analyzed the causes of death in the Korean population in 2020. Methods: Cause-of-death data for 2020 from Statistics Korea were examined based on the Korean Standard Classification of Diseases and Causes of Death, 7th revision and the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th revision. Results: In total, 304,948 deaths occurred, reflecting an increase of 9,838 (3.3%) from 2019. The crude death rate (the number of deaths per 100,000 people) was 593.9, corresponding to an increase of 19.0 (3.3%) from 2019. The 10 leading causes of death, in descending order, were malignant neoplasms, heart diseases, pneumonia, cerebrovascular diseases, intentional self-harm, diabetes mellitus, Alzheimer’s disease, liver diseases, hypertensive diseases, and sepsis. Cancer accounted for 27.0% of deaths. Within the category of malignant neoplasms, the top 5 leading organs of involvement were the lung, liver, colon, stomach, and pancreas. Sepsis was included in the 10 leading causes of death for the first time. Mortality due to pneumonia decreased to 43.3 (per 100,000 people) from 45.1 in 2019. The number of deaths due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was 950, of which 54.5% were in people aged 80 or older. Conclusion: These changes reflect the continuing increase in deaths due to diseases of old age, including sepsis. The decrease in deaths due to pneumonia may have been due to protective measures against SARS-CoV-2. With the concomitant decrease in fertility, 2020 became the first year in which Korea’s natural total population decreased.

In 2022, malignant neoplasm was the cause of death for 783.9 people per 100,000 population among elderly people in South Korea aged 65 years and older. This made it the leading cause of death for seniors that year, far ahead of other common causes such as cardiovascular disease and COVID-19.

UNICEF's country profile for Republic of Korea, including under-five mortality rates, child health, education and sanitation data.

This study aimed to analyze changing trends in child injury deaths from 2006 to 2016 and to provide basic data for initiatives to help prevent child injury deaths through improvements in social systems and education. Specific causes of death were analyzed using micro-data of the death statistics of Korea from 2006 to 2016, which were made available by Statistics Korea. Types and place of death were classified according to the KCD-7 (Korean Standard Classification of Diseases and Causes of Death). The data were compared to those of other Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Changing trends were presented. The number of child deaths by injury was 270 in 2016. The death rate was 8.1 per 100,000 population in 2006, while it was 3.9 in 2016. The death rate of boys was 1.7 times greater than that of girls. Unintentional injury deaths comprised 72.6% of all child injury deaths in 2016, while intentional injury deaths comprised 27.4%. The first leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in infants (less than 1-year-old) was suffocation, while that of children aged 1-14 years was transport accidents. The second leading cause of death in infants was transport accidents, that of children aged 1-4 was falling, and that of children aged 5-14 was drowning. Pedestrian accidents comprised 43.7% of the transport accidents from 2014 to 2016. To prevent child injury deaths by both unintentional and intentional causes, nation-wide policy measures and more specific interventions according to cause are required.

In 2023, the suicide rate in South Korea was particularly high among the elderly population over the age of **, with **** deaths per 100,000 population. The overall suicide rate among people aged 10 to 79 years increased compared to the previous year. Suicide was the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 39 years. Suicide among the elderlySouth Korea has the highest suicide rate in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). One driving factor for suicide among the elderly is poverty. Almost half of the senior citizens in the country live with less than half the median disposable income. Many do not want to become a financial burden for their families and end up committing suicide as a result of not being able to support themselves.Suicide prevention Since the South Korean government implemented its initial suicide prevention program in 2004, numerous measures have been put in place to address the alarmingly high suicide rate. However, these efforts have not been very successful. Despite an increase in the annual budget for suicide prevention, it still remains significantly lower compared to international standards. If you are having suicidal thoughts, or you know someone who is, it is essential to seek help. Many countries have suicide crisis or prevention lines that offer free advice and support in such situations. If you live in the United States, you can reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by simply calling *** to receive free and confidential support ****. If you live in South Korea you can call the suicide prevention hotline ***.

This statistic presents the results of a survey on perceived leading causes of death through interpersonal violence in South Korea as of 2018. According to data published by Ipsos, 48 percent of South Korean respondents thought that most people killed through interpersonal violence in 2015 died from sharp objects such as knives, when the actual share of victims from sharp objects was around 25 percent of all violent deaths.

In 2022, the leading cause of death among people with disabilities in South Korea were malignant neoplasms, with a crude death rate of ***** deaths per 100,000 population. This was impacted by the ongoing pandemic, with COVID-19 and other U07-designated diseases being the second-most common cause that year.

Author: Michael Robinson, educatorGrade/Audience: high school, ap human geography, professional developmentResource type: lessonSubject topic(s): population, human geographyRegion: asiaStandards: AP Human Geography Connection 2.9 Aging Populations - Explain the causes and consequences of an aging population. An aging population has political, social, and economic consequences, including the dependency ratio. Objectives: The student will identify the leading causes of death in South Korea. The student will describe the growing aging population in South Korea. The student will explain how South Korea is dealing with the aging population. The student will describe and explain possible ways of supporting the growing elderly population in South Korea. Summary: South Korea has one of the highest life expectancies in the world, which has led to a growing aged population. The number of persons over 65 is projected to continue to rise, and with the increase there are social issues the government must address. The lesson has students analyzing graphs and maps from The Atlas of Korea to identity, describe, and explain aging of the population of South Korea. Students will listen to a news report and read an editorial to help them determine solutions to this growing problem in South Korea.

In 2023, there were *** infants in South Korea who died from certain conditions originating in the perinatal period. The second-most common cause of death for Korean infants were symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, NEC.

ObjectiveComparative evidence suggests that the impact of COVID-19 on life expectancy has been relatively milder in South Korea. This study aims to examine whether the pandemic has universal or unequal impacts on life expectancy across 250 districts with varying levels of deprivation.MethodsUsing mortality data from 2012 to 2021 obtained from the Microdata Integrated Service of Statistics Korea, we calculated life expectancy at birth and age 65 for both sexes, by deprivation quintiles, before and during the pandemic. We summarized life expectancy gaps using the slope of the inequality index (SII) and further decomposed the gaps by the contribution of age and cause of death using Arriaga’s method.ResultsBoth men and women experienced consistent improvements in life expectancy from 2012 to 2019, but the trend was disrupted during 2020 and 2021, primarily driven by older people. While men in more deprived areas were initially hit harder by the pandemic, the life expectancy gap across deprivation quintiles remained relatively constant and persistent across the study period [SII: -2.48 (CI: −2.70 from −2.27) for 2019 and − 2.84 (CI: −3.06 from −2.63) for 2020]. Middle-aged men from the most deprived areas were the most significant contributors to the life expectancy gap, with liver disease, liver cancer, transport accidents, and intentional injuries being the leading causes, both in the pre and during the pandemic. While these contributors remained largely similar before and during the pandemic, the contribution of transport accidents and liver cancer to the male life expectancy gap slightly decreased during the pandemic, while that of ischemic heart disease and pneumonia slightly increased. A similar increase was also observed for the female life expectancy gap.ConclusionThis study found no clear evidence of an increased life expectancy gap during the pandemic in South Korea, unlike in other countries, although access to emergency healthcare services may have been slightly more disturbed in deprived areas. This achievement can provide lessons for other countries. However, the persistent regional gaps in life expectancy observed over the past decade indicate the need for more targeted public health policies to address this issue.

Age-standardized death rates and DALY rates in North Korea and four comparison nations between 1990–2019, and percentage change from 1990 to 2019, by level 1 cause.

Major causes of death in entire cohort and in patients with atrial fibrillation according to ICD-10 codes.

According to a survey conducted in South Korea in 2024, approximately **** percent of middle and high school students who had suicidal thoughts in the past year cited academic problems as the main reason. This was followed by anxiety about the future and career, which accounted for around **** percent. Suicide has been the leading cause of death among people aged 10 to 24 in South Korea since 2011.

The countries with the highest suicide mortality rate worldwide in 2019 included Lesotho, Guyana, and Eswatini. Suicide rates of men are much higher than among women in many countries. Lithuania has one of the highest suicide rates for men as of 2019, while South Korea reports the highest suicide rate for women.

In the United States

Although the United States is not among the countries with the highest suicide mortality rate, suicide is still one of the leading causes of death in the U.S. As with other countries, the suicide rate among males in the U.S. is much higher than among females. The age group with the highest rate of suicide is those aged 45 to 64 years, followed by 25 to 44-year-olds. The states with the highest suicide rates are Wyoming, Alaska, and Montana.

Risk factors and help

Major risk factors for suicide include mental health issues and substance abuse problems; however, it can be difficult to predict who is at risk. Warning signs such as talking about wanting to die, expressing feelings of depression, suicidal ideation, and abusing drugs or alcohol should be taken seriously and help should be sought as soon as possible. Suicide hotlines exist in many countries around the world and one should not hesitate to discuss such issues and feelings with a health care provider.

Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses of the impact of Safe-Speed-5030 on the study population.

Traffic accidents (TAs) remain the leading cause of death globally; therefore, numerous efforts have been made to improve their occurrence and outcomes. Lowering the maximum road speed limit, named Safe Speed-5030, implemented in South Korea on April 17, 2021, is an example. This before-and-after study investigated the impact of this policy on pedestrian TA (P-TA) patients. We used the National Emergency Department Information System data for seven major cities in South Korea. We compared the characteristics of the patients who underwent P-TA and assessed the risks of emergency surgery, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and unfavorable outcomes, using IBM SPSS version 21.0. The total number of patients who met with P-TAs was 26,842, with a 43.1% reduction from 17,105–9,737. A decrease was observed across all age groups; however, the rate was lower in the geriatric and severely injured groups. The proportions of emergency surgeries (46.5%), ICU admissions (36.5%), and unfavorable outcomes (21.5%) decreased. Nevertheless, this decrease was less pronounced in geriatric patients, and there was an increase in unfavorable outcomes among those in their 70s. After adjustment, the risk of emergency surgery did not show a statistically significant difference, but the risk of ICU admission and unfavorable outcomes increased. In conclusion, there was a significant reduction in the number of P-TA patients after the policy was implemented, but the effect was less pronounced in severely injured and geriatric patients. Considering these factors, we believe that Safe Speed-5030 had partly positive effects. Applying a suitably revised policy for specific group rather than completely scrapping it would be more appropriate.