Cultural Stigma Manifested in Official Suicide Death in South Korea

Abstract

This article examines the cultural sources of underreported suicide deaths in South Korea. It analyzes two sets of suicide data compiled by two different government agencies. Noting the considerable undercounting of suicide deaths compiled by the National Statistical Office, it explores how the underreporting is linked to the Confucian norm of familism. Despite an effort to improve the quality of official suicide data, a reform in the death system is needed in order to gather accurate data for a better understanding of the increased suicides as well as for the development of more effective suicide prevention and intervention strategies.

Estimates of suicide mortality in women residents in northeast brazilian states from 1996 to 2018

“…Despite the low magnitude of mortality rates in the Northeastern states when compared to the developed countries of Western Europe and Asia 4,12 , the northeastern states show an upward trend in the evolution of suicide mortality in a large proportion (55.5%), as well as Brazil in the period from 2004 to 2015 [22][23][24] .…”

The Systemic Model of Social Disorganization and Homicide and Suicide Trajectories in South Korean Community Areas: Testing the Stream Analogy of Lethal Violence

“…South Koreans have historically culturally valued collectivism, which emphasizes the importance of family unity and individuals working toward the development and sustainment of a good and moral collective society (Im, Park, & Ratcliff, 2018) (similar to Durkheim's [(1897Durkheim's [( ) 1951] concept of social integration, see Conceptual Framework section). Culturally shared perceptions and values specific to the meaning of suicide are closely aligned with Confucianism (Hyung Keun Park et al, 2016;Im et al, 2018).…”

“…South Koreans have historically culturally valued collectivism, which emphasizes the importance of family unity and individuals working toward the development and sustainment of a good and moral collective society (Im, Park, & Ratcliff, 2018) (similar to Durkheim's [(1897Durkheim's [( ) 1951] concept of social integration, see Conceptual Framework section). Culturally shared perceptions and values specific to the meaning of suicide are closely aligned with Confucianism (Hyung Keun Park et al, 2016;Im et al, 2018). If an individual kills themselves without purpose, willfully, and due to self-serving motivations (defined by Durkheim [(1897Durkheim [( ) 1951 as "egoistic suicide"), community members and society overall perceive them as lacking moral character (Im et al, 2018).…”

Factors Related to Suicide Ideation in Older Women Living Alone

“…하지만 임상적으로 대상자가 자살에 대한 응답을 꺼릴 경우 수동적 자살생각에 대한 질문이 유용하다고 보고되 고 있다 [5]. 특히 우리나라에서는 자살에 대한 부정적인 사회 적 낙인과 유교문화 사상으로 [6,7] 자살 관련 통계가 과소 보고 되는 경향이 있다 [7]. 따라서 [11,12], 낮은 경 제 수준 [13,14], 우울 [11,14], 자살시도 경험 [15] [12,16], 도구적 일상생활 활동 능력이 저하될수록 [12], 주관적 건 강상태가 나쁠수록 [3,12], 만성 통증을 경험할수록 [16], 신체 활동이 저하될수록 [12,13]…”