Average suicide rate in 92 depopulation areas stands at 32.1 per 100,000, versus 28.4 elsewhere; 25 of 29 areas nationwide with no psychiatrist are depopulation zones; lawmaker Kim Seon-min calls for stronger mental health support tailored to regional conditions

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[123RF]

Suicide rates in South Korea's designated depopulation areas are higher than in other regions, and those same areas also lack adequate mental health infrastructure. Of the 92 depopulation zones, 25 have no psychiatrist at all.

Rebuilding Korea Party lawmaker Kim Seon-min of the National Assembly's Science, Technology, Information, Broadcasting and Communications Committee analyzed data submitted by the Ministry of Statistics and the Ministry of Interior and Safety, finding that the average suicide rate in depopulation areas stood at 32.1 per 100,000 people in 2025 — 3.7 higher than the 28.4 recorded in non-depopulation areas.

A regional breakdown showed that 65 of the 92 depopulation areas, or 70.7 percent, had suicide rates above the 2025 national average of 27.8 per 100,000.

Six of the 10 areas with the highest suicide rates per 100,000 people were depopulation zones. Taebaek in Gangwon Province recorded the highest rate at 61.5 per 100,000, followed by Yangyang-gun in Gangwon Province at 51.2, Dong-gu in Incheon at 50.8, Yeongdeok-gun in North Gyeongsang Province at 48.7, and Sancheong-gun in South Gyeongsang Province at 48.6.

Mental health care infrastructure in these high-suicide depopulation areas is also severely lacking.

The national average number of psychiatrists per 100,000 people stood at 8.37 in 2025. Some 63 of the 92 depopulation areas, or 68.5 percent, fell below that figure.

Areas with no psychiatrist at all were concentrated in depopulation zones. Of all cities, counties and districts nationwide with no psychiatrist, 25 were depopulation areas — accounting for 86.2 percent of the total.

"The government's assessments of local suicide prevention policies must adequately reflect the conditions of each region," Kim said. "We must strengthen the recruitment of mental health professionals and community mental health support so that residents in areas with a shortage of such workers can receive the care they need in a timely manner."

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.


thlee@heraldcorp.com