Report: More than 14,500 South Koreans committed suicide last year
By APWednesday, June 2, 2010
Report: 14,500 SKoreans commit suicide in 2009
SEOUL, South Korea — A news report says more than 14,500 South Koreans killed themselves last year, up nearly 19 percent from 2008.
Yonhap news agency said Wednesday 14,579 people committed suicide last year, with people over 61 accounting for about one-third of the deaths. Yonhap says the National Police Agency provided the figures.
The report says mental problems were the most common reasons for the suicides, followed by physical illness and financial difficulties.
Police officials were not immediately available for comment on Wednesday, a national holiday.
South Korea has the highest suicide rate among the 30 nations in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
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