Health · Mental Health · 2 hrs ago
South Korean student suicides rose 25.8% from 2022 to 2025
The number of elementary, middle and high school students who died by suicide in South Korea rose 25.8% from 2022 to 2025.
The annual total increased from 194 in 2022 to 244 in 2025.
A further 112 student deaths were recorded in the first half of 2026, bringing the total since 2022 to 985 by June 2026.
In 300 cases, the recorded contributing factors were unknown.
Education Ministry data is based on teachers’ assessments informed by school reports and, with consent, bereaved families.
Specialist counselling teachers were assigned to 42.5% of schools as of April 2025, rising to 49.6% when itinerant counsellors were counted.
The ministry could not say whether schools where students died had counselling teachers because its forms did not collect that information.
Representative Suh Bum-soo urged more counsellors and better systems to identify students at risk; the ministry’s next steps are not stated.
Suicides among elementary, middle and high school students in South Korea rose 25.8% from 2022 to 2025.
The annual number increased from 194 in 2022 to 244 in 2025, according to Education Ministry data.
Another 112 student deaths were recorded in the first half of 2026, bringing the total since 2022 to 985 by June 2026.
In 300 cases over the period, the contributing factors were classified as unknown.
Representative Suh Bum-soo called for stronger analysis, more counselling staff and better systems to identify and support students at risk.
- Who
- Elementary, middle and high school students in South Korea.
- What
- Student suicides rose 25.8% from 2022 to 2025.
- When
- From 2022 to 2025, with 112 more deaths recorded in the first half of 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- The sources do not establish why the deaths occurred; contributing factors were classified as unknown in 300 cases.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
194 elementary, middle and high school students died by suicide.
The annual number rose to 214.
The annual number rose to 221.
The annual number reached 244.
Another 112 student deaths were recorded, bringing the total since 2022 to 985 by June.
- Increase
- 25.8% from 2022 to 2025
- Annual deaths in 2022
- 194
- Annual deaths in 2025
- 244
- First-half 2026 deaths
- 112
- Total, 2022 to June 2026
- 985
- Unknown contributing factors
- 300 cases
What people are saying
dereliction of duty