Hotline to stay connected even when outgoing calls are blocked

Carriers and device makers to implement the change from October ahead of formal regulatory revision

People whose mobile phone service has been suspended due to unpaid bills or other financial difficulties will still be able to reach the Suicide Prevention Counseling Hotline at 109.

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Science and ICT, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced Tuesday they would jointly pursue the designation of the 109 hotline as an emergency communications line, strengthening access to the service so that callers in a suicidal crisis can get through regardless of their phone's service status.

The move was prompted by feedback posted on Cheong Wa Dae's social media channels, where users reported being unable to reach 109 because their outgoing calls had been suspended due to financial hardship.

The 109 hotline operates around the clock, 365 days a year, and is toll-free for callers. However, unlike 112 (police) and 119 (fire and emergency), it has not been designated as an emergency communications line, meaning people with suspended service have been unable to use it.

In response, the three agencies reviewed the current regulatory framework and worked with related ministries to find a solution that would allow counseling calls to go through even when outgoing service is blocked.

Because revising the relevant ministerial notice typically takes about three months, the agencies coordinated in advance with telecommunications carriers to fast-track the necessary system development, and agreed to apply the change from Oct. 1 even before the formal regulatory revision is complete.

The public comment period for the notice revision will also be shortened from 20 days to 10. Device manufacturers are expected to add 109 to the emergency call list on handsets, allowing users to dial the hotline directly from the lock screen.

"Designating 109 as an emergency communications line will help spread awareness that it is an emergency service for suicide prevention and strengthen its role as a safety net," said Lee Seon-yeong, director general for mental health policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare. "It will provide real, practical help to people in a suicidal crisis."


thlee@heraldcorp.com