KB News Desk
South Korea ranked 27th among 37 wealthy countries in child well-being, a stark contrast to its top placement in academic performance, according to a UNICEF report.
The Korean Committee for UNICEF released an analysis on Thursday comparing UNICEF Innocenti’s latest report, published in May, with its 2020 edition.
Korea rose from 11th to third in academic skills but fell sharply from 13th to 30th in physical health. It remained 34th in mental well-being, while its overall ranking fell six places to 27th.
The report also found that Korea had the fifth-highest youth suicide rate among 42 countries, at 10.33 deaths per 100,000 people. Suicide has been the leading cause of death among Korean children and adolescents for 14 consecutive years.
UNICEF Korea urged the government to strengthen children’s legal protections, expand mental health services, and ensure they have enough time to exercise, play and rest.
