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What is the Main Cause of Depression Among South Korean

Teens?

Educational Perspective

Word Count: 1258

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Modern South Korean Society

According to the Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation (OECD),

South Korea’s suicide rates is one of the highest around the world (Singh 2018). The suicide rate

from both genders increased from 11.2 per 100,000 people in 1985 to 28.7 per 100,000 people in

2015 (Sohn 2017). There are various mental health issues, regarding South Korea in today’s

society, especially with teenagers. After the devastating Korean War in the 1950s, South Korea

was hit with massive poverty. Impoverished, the government had to fix the situation for its

citizens. The South Korean government decided to shift and invest most of their finances on

education, so the South Korean economy could rise. Because of this movement, now South

Korea is one of the most educated and developed societies in the world.

The OECD states that South Korea is now one of the largest economies in the world,

ranking 12th globally, and 4th in Asia (Mani 2018). Due to its advanced technology, South

Korea even has one of the highest internet rates in the whole entire globe. Due to the focus on

education, South Korean students now invest more time on studying than any other children

(Mani 2018). Not only studying more than other countries, but according to the PISA Test of

2015, an international survey where they test the educational skills of 15-year-olds, South

Korean students ranked high on multiple subjects, such as mathematics, science, and reading

(Bonanomi 2017). As South Korea gradually increased from a developing to a developed country

in a short amount of time, South Korea has now one of the highest suicide rates all over the

world (Sohn 2017). The focus on education could lead to many benefits, but sadly, there are

more downsides. Korean students are constantly exposed to competition, stress, and pressure,

which impact their overall health.

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Pressure From the College Entrance Exam

Korean society is heavily influenced by Confucian ideals, which means there is a lot of

emphasis on education. In Korea, there is a hierarchy in society. If you are smart, you are usually

at the top of the hierarchy. To reach the top, students usually study to get into one of the three top

universities in South Korea. Mostly known as “SKY,” these universities are Seoul National

University, Korea University, and Yonsei University. These prestigious universities usually

require a high score from a student’s college entrance exam, or Suneung (VanderGast 2015).

This exam is only taken once, during senior year of High School. In the streets of South Korea,

every second Tuesday of each November, businesses are told to open late, trucks are banned

from streets, and flights are delayed so students can focus with no distractions (Bonanomi 2017).

Even running late to the exam site will lead a student to be escorted by the police. Due to this

overwhelming amount of pressure, students are very likely to be influenced by depressive

thoughts (Bonanomi 2017). Surveys conducted by researchers from William Paterson University

and University of North Carolina show that South Korean teenagers show depressive disorders

under the age of 19. Not only depression, but eating disorders and suicidal thoughts were shown

(VanderGast 2015). In addition, there are ties where stress could be identified as a factor that

builds pressure during senior year of high school (VanderGast 2015). South Koreans are very

fierce and competitive when it comes to education, so students receive an overwhelming amount

of family pressure, academic stress, and depressive thoughts.

Studying Late Hours

As previously stated, the college entrance exam is taken once. Due to having one

opportunity to take this exam, South Koreans will do all of their ways to have a high score. Since
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competition is very fierce in South Korea, the country’s students devote more time to studying

than any other countries in the OECD, as previously stated. Admission to the top universities is

very fierce, and considered one of the most merciless education systems in the world (Mani

2018). For example, an article published by the National Public Radio states that an average

school day ends at 4pm, but technically ends at 11pm. The reason being is because students will

stay at school to study extra hours to obtain a high score for their exam. There are more students

who study 14 or more hours in South Korea (Hu 2019). Some parents even spend thousands of

dollars for their children for after-school tuition, so students can study more effectively. Around

75% of all students in South Korea attend these after-school classes (Bonanomi 2017). As

explained by the title of the article, “The All-Work, No-Play culture of South Korean

Education,” reflects the emphasis on education on Korean society. The lack of sleep usually

correlates to the cause of depression. Results of a study conducted by the Sleep Research Society

shows us that weekend oversleep is associated with depressive factors. Sleep duration, effects,

and even causes were affected by multiple variables, but especially depression (Lee 2012).

The Growth of Bullying Among Students

Depression among students is growing at a fast pace. A survey conducted by the OECD

shows an increase of depression rates from 2001 to 2011 (Koo 2018). As students go to schools

in South Korea, they are exposed to many factors such as the harsh education system and

competition. One of the main factors though, it is bullying. Bullying is an aggressive behavior

that can cause suffering (Kim et al., 2009). Participants involved in bullying have reported to

have significant mental conditions. Bullying was measured using the Korean-Peer Nomination

Inventory (K-PNI), where victims were pressured to do work for students, carry bags for others,
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and even being shoved at. In this study, Korean children were identified as being suicidal,

self-injurious, and depressed. One participant quotes, “I deliberately try to hurt or kill myself”

(Kim et al., 2009). To examine this relationship between depression and bullying, more research

was done on another set of participants. This time in seoul, where 1,666 participants were

evaluated. A total of 40% were involved with bullying. Girls were also more likely to become

more depressed than guys (Kim et. al, 2009). As depression leads to suicide, the bullied are at an

increased risk due to the experiences in school. Bullying can cause many self-harm behaviours,

and could affect the mental health of students in South Korea.

The Future of the South Korean Education System

No doubt, South Korea has one of the best education systems. It is arguable that the shift

from an agricultural society to one of the most technologically advanced societies has benefited

the South Korean standard of living. A report from the OECD states that 93% of South Korean

teens graduate from high school, compared to the U.S., a graduation rate of 72%. South Koreans

attend school for 220 days per year, while students in the United States attend 180 days (Blazer

2012). 70% of 24-35 year olds in South Korea have completed some form of tertiary education,

or university (Mani 2018). Korean students have been recognized and have achieved great

success internationally. Even with a great education system, there will always be negatives.

Depression, suicide, psychiatric help, and more. The modern Korean Society will need to

provide its citizens not only a good education, but one that doesn’t put too much pressure and

academic stress on its students. In that way, South Korean students will be able to work more

efficiently and have more positive thoughts. The South Korean education system is one of the

leading causes of depression among the country’s students.

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Works Cited

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Purposes for the Future. Retrieved January 20, 2019, from

http://www.theasian.asia/archives/99165

Hewlett, E. (2013). Korea’s increase in suicides and psychiatric bed numbers is worrying, says

OECD. Retrieved January 22, 2019, from

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Hu, E. (2015, April 15). The All-Work, No-Play Culture Of South Korean Education. Retrieved

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