Health · Mental Health · 7 hrs ago
South Korea links suicide prevention and debt counselling hotlines
South Korea’s Health Ministry and Credit Recovery Commission have linked the 109 suicide prevention hotline with the 1375 debt counselling line.
When a 109 counsellor learns that a caller is facing debt problems, they can connect the caller to the commission for advice on debt adjustment and other support.
The aim is to move beyond simply giving callers another number and link them directly with specialist help.
The change addresses a problem the ministry says accounts for a significant share of suicide-related concerns raised in counselling.
The two organisations have trained counsellors to understand each other’s services and how they work.
At night and on weekends, callers can leave their contact details to arrange a counselling appointment.
South Korea is linking its suicide prevention hotline, 109, with a debt counselling call centre, 1375.
The Health and Welfare Ministry and the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service said the referral system would operate from November 10.
Callers whose suicide prevention counselling identifies debt problems can be connected to the service for advice on debt adjustment and other support.
At night and on weekends, callers can leave their contact details to arrange a counselling session.
The government expects direct referrals to specialist help to provide more practical support to people in crisis.
- Who
- South Korea’s Health and Welfare Ministry and the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service.
- What
- They are linking suicide prevention hotline 109 with debt counselling call centre 1375.
- When
- The system was announced on November 10, 2026.
- Where
- South Korea.
- Why
- To connect people whose debt problems arise during suicide prevention counselling with specialist advice and support.
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- Suicide prevention hotline
- 109
- Debt counselling call centre
- 1375
- Announcing agencies
- Health and Welfare Ministry and Credit Counseling and Recovery Service
- Announcement date
- November 10, 2026
- After-hours referrals
- Callers can leave their contact details to arrange counselling
1 source
What people are saying
Debt-related suicidal thoughts account for a relatively large share of suicide prevention counselling.
Until now, 109 has informed callers that they could resolve debt problems through the Credit Counseling and Recovery Service, but now that we can refer callers directly, we will be able to respond more effectively.