Korea Labor Foundation, Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention sign MOU

Suicide prevention centers to refer clients needing employment support to foundation

The Korea Labor Foundation at its new offices on Chungjeong-ro in Seodaemun-gu [Korea Labor Foundation]
The Korea Labor Foundation at its new offices on Chungjeong-ro in Seodaemun-gu [Korea Labor Foundation]

A referral system will be established to connect people showing signs of a suicide crisis during job counseling or labor consultations to specialized suicide prevention agencies. When suicide prevention centers identify clients who need employment or labor support, they will refer those individuals to counseling services offered by the Korea Labor Foundation.

The Korea Labor Foundation will sign an MOU Monday afternoon with the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention to strengthen suicide prevention efforts for middle-aged workers and vulnerable laborers. The agreement aims to use the foundation's service sites — including its nationwide network of middle-aged job centers and Eum centers — as early-detection touchpoints for identifying people at risk.

Under the agreement, the Korea Labor Foundation will refer anyone found to show signs of a suicide crisis during consultations to the relevant suicide prevention center or other specialized agency. The Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention will connect clients at suicide prevention centers who need employment or labor support to the foundation's reemployment assistance and worker counseling services. Both organizations also plan to display suicide prevention materials at their service sites and use educational videos on responding to high-risk individuals.

Park Jong-pil, secretary general of the Korea Labor Foundation, said difficulties in the workplace and job market often intersect with personal crises. "We will work together so that the foundation, which meets middle-aged workers and vulnerable laborers at sites across the country, can serve as the first safety net for respecting and protecting life," he said.

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.


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