South Korea, gripped by suicide epidemic, criminalizes suicide-pacts

Cory Doctorow 10:59 am Tue Jan 23, 2018

South Korea has one of the world's highest suicide rates — it has steadily mounted since 2000, rising to 25.6 per 100,000.

The South Korean government has enacted a roster of suicide-prevention measures, including censorship of dramas and cartoons that feature suicide, mandatory suicide education for soldiers, and suicide screenings during the mandatory annual checkups for South Koreans aged 40-70.

Additionally, the government has criminalized planning suicide pacts.

The government said more than 90 per cent of those who killed themselves sent warning signals in advance and suicides could largely be prevented through people paying attention.

South Korea to criminalise suicide pacts [Channel News Asia]

(via Charlie Stross)

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