N.Y. Korean Suicide Rate Skyrockets
Korea Times, News Report, No-Yeol Kim, Translated by Eunji Jang, Posted: Jun 30, 2009
NEW YORK -- More than 30 Koreans in New York City have committed suicide this year.
According to a Korea Times survey of the three major Korean funeral parlors in New York and New Jersey -- Jung-Ang Funeral Parlor, Je-Mi Funeral Parlor and Kim, Ki-Ho Yae Hospital -- 31 Koreans committed suicide between January and June 26th. This number indicates that an average of five Koreans in New York kill themselves each month, four times greater than the general population's average of 12 to 15 suicides a year.
The funeral directors said the number would be even higher if the survey had included more funeral homes.
Observers say the financial burdens that were fueled by the economic crisis have led some people to suffer from self-hatred and have contributed to the rapid increase in suicides.
Experts say the rate of suicide has increased particularly among married couples and the elderly. Moreover, suicides by young people -- high school and college students as well as people in their 20s and 30s -- have also recently appeared.
Experts point out that, in addition to the recession, the frequent suicides by South Korean celebrities also have an effect.
“Even though the suicide rates tend to increase during the recession, South Koreans’ suicide rate is noticeably high compared to other ethnicities,” said one of the Korean funeral directors. “Economic distress, family trouble and disappointment are the leading causes of suicide. However, we can’t ignore the ripple effect of the Korean celebrities’ suicides that have been occurring in succession.”
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One in Four Korean Deaths in L.A. Is a Suicide
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User Comments
Linda Rho on Jul 14, 2009 at 10:30:40 said:
A decade ago, it was reported that Korean American kids were among the highest of Asian American kids to commit suicide because of the tremendous family pressure for them to go to Ivy League schools, major in medicine, obtain a great job after training, and to support the family with luxuries like Mercedes and a suburban house, as well as marry another Korean American doctor and bore another generation of same.
JSmith on Jun 30, 2009 at 09:26:24 said:
Unfortunately, this article doesn't tell us very much. Is there also a marked increase in suicides in other areas? Are the Korean celebrities who have taken their own lives local to the NY area? I have seen no sign of it on the Korea TV channels I get.
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