A politician from South Korean is being criticized after he made unfounded statements about male suicide rates. And their connection to women’s growing power in society. In his report on suicide attempts at bridges over Seoul’s Han River, Kim Ki-duck. A city councilor in Seoul, suggested that the country has become a “female-dominant society” recently. And this might be one of the causes for more men trying to kill themselves.
Claims about a Female-Dominated Society South KoreanÂ
According to him, the rise in female workforce participation has made it difficult for men to find jobs and marriage partners who would accept them as breadwinners. Councillor Kim also argued that South Korea’s suicide rate among wealthy countries is the highest because it combines with one of the worst records on gender equality globally. Male politicians making such out-of-touch statements attracted widespread criticism earlier this year when lawmakers proposed revising an abortion law without consulting any women representatives or experts.
Understanding Suicide Statistics South KoreanÂ
The number of men attempting suicide increased by 10% between 2018 and 2023, while that of women decreased by 13% during this period. This translates into a jump from 67% to 77% in the male proportion among total cases tried along the Han River alone last year. However, experts warn against simplistic interpretations based on these figures, which do not account for other factors like age groups or methods used by victims – some may have chosen less lethal means only because they failed with more dangerous ones before.
Expert Commentary
Suicide prevention professionals are concerned about Councillor Kim’s approach as Song In Han, a mental health professor at Yonsei University College of Medicine, told BBC News: “It is hazardous and unwise to make claims like this without sufficient evidence,” adding that worldwide more men take their own lives than women do so we should focus on what drives them towards self-harm instead. For example, in England & Wales, where suicide is the leading cause of death among those under 50s, many experts think it’s linked to socioeconomic factors rather than gender wars.
Need for Scientific Research
Song also called for scientific research into reasons behind male suicide attempts in Seoul instead of framing them as gender conflict, saying, “It is deplorable that a male politician raised this issue without any scientific basis”. He argued that many possible causes exist, such as joblessness, low income, or mental illness. Still, they need thorough investigation, not simplified explanations like those offered by politicians who should know better.
