'Female-dominant society behind male suicides', says South Korean Councillor
Han river, suicides, phone
In South Korea, a politician has linked the rise in male suicides tothe increase in the number of working women.
Councillor Kim Ki-duck argues that the increasing participation of women in the workforce has made it more challenging for men to secure jobs and find marriage partners. He claims that the shift towards a "female-dominant society" might "partly be responsible for an increase in male suicide attempts".
As per the BBC, Kim based his assertions on data from Seoul's Han River, which indicates that suicide attempts along the river had increased from 430 in 2018 to 1,035 in 2023 — with the proportion of men rising from 67 per cent to 77 per cent.
He argues that the way to overcome "the female-domination phenomenon" was to improve people's awareness of gender equality so that "men and women can enjoy equal opportunities".
In a comment to BBC, he later defended his claims and said he had "not intended to be critical of the female-dominated society".
Kim faces backlash
The politician is facing backlash for his claims. Experts in suicide prevention have criticised his conclusions as unfounded and potentially harmful.
Song In Han, a mental health professor at Seoul’s Yonsei University, highlighted the global trend of higher male suicide rates and said,"It is dangerous and unwise to make claims like this without sufficient evidence."
Song In San noted that there was a need for scientific study to understand the reasons behind the surge in male suicide attempts in Seoul, and said it was "very regrettable"that the councillor had made it about gender conflict.
South Korea: Gender inequality
South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries. It also struggles with one of the worst gender equality records.
In South Korea, women are often employed in temporary or part-time positions and earn, on average, 29 per cent less than men.
Despite this, an anti-feminist movement, led by disillusioned young men who feel disadvantaged by gender equality efforts, has reared its head in the country.
Kim's remarks, which echo these views, have been widely denounced on social media as "unsubstantiated" and "misogynistic".
The Justice Party accused Kim of "easily shifting the blame to women in Korean society who are struggling to escape gender discrimination". It called for Kim to retract his comments and "properly analyse" the causes of male suicides.
(With inputs from agencies)
(With inputs from agencies)
