Korea’s high suicide rates remain a serious social issue. The domestic suicide rate is 25.6 per 100,000 people, which is 2.4 times higher than the OECD average of 12.1. Under these circumstances, critics have pointed out on multiple occasions that the current Act on the Prevention of Suicide and the Creation of Culture of Respect for Life, on which suicide prevention projects are based, has been ineffective since it is mostly made up of declarative provisions. To ensure the formulation and implementation of efficient policies, it is necessary to incorporate urgent matters into the Act.

As there have been not a few cases of online recruitments for suicidal persons and actual suicide incidients encouraged by suicide information, the Amendment prescribes legal grounds to prevent such cases. It also clearly specifies statutes concerning requests for information provision to rescue persons who have attempted or are likely to commit suicide as well as suicide prevention promotion.

As for the details thereof, the Amendment prohibits the distribution of suicide-inducing information and prescribes that non-compliance shall be punishable by imprisonment of up to 2 years or a fine of up to 20 million won (Article 19). It prescribes grounds on which to request information and communication service providers for personal information on individuals who recruit others for a suicide attempt or post messages alluding to suicide (Article 19-2). It also prescribes grounds on which to carry out a project targeting high suicide risk groups including bereaved family members by adding “case management of high suicide risk groups and family members” to the work of suicide prevention centers (Article 13).

Prohibit the distribution of suicide-inducing information through any newspaper, broadcast, or information and communications networks pursuant to Article 2, subparagraph 1 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., by any person (Article 19, paragraph 1)

Allow any emergency rescue agency under Article 3, subparagraph 7 of the Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety and the National Police Agency or a regional police agency/police station under Article 2 of the Police Act to request a provider of information and communications services pursuant to Article 2, paragraph 1, subparagraph 3 of the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection, etc., to submit or provide access to information when urgently needed to protect the life and health of persons likely to commit suicide who fall under the following subparagraphs, and require such provider to respond to the request without delay (Article 19-2)

Require providers of information and communications services to designate an information provision officer pursuant to Article 19-2, paragraph 1 and file a report with the Minister of Health and Welfare (Article 19-3).