KB News Desk
More than 600,000 reports of online content that could encourage or facilitate suicide were filed in South Korea last year, but 7 in 10 remained online at the end of the year, government data showed Wednesday.
The Health Ministry received 602,781 reports of what Korean law defines as “suicide-inducing information” in 2025, according to data provided to Rep. Seo Mi-hwa of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea and first reported by Seoul Shinmun.
The category includes posts seeking suicide partners, content encouraging suicide and information on obtaining or using potentially lethal materials.
The number of reports has more than quadrupled from 142,725 in 2021. In 2025, only 176,163 of the reported items, or 29.2 percent, had been removed by year-end.
Social media accounted for 525,643 reports, with X responsible for 99.9 percent of them.
Online communities had the lowest removal rate. Of the 73,036 reports involving community posts, only 4,132, or 5.7 percent, resulted in removal.
The government had only one official dedicated to monitoring such content through 2024. Staffing was increased to four in September 2025, while the annual budget rose from 30 million won ($21,900) in 2024 to 207 million won this year.
The removal rate improved to 45.1 percent in the first half of this year, but more than half of reported content remained online.
Beginning Nov. 12, online platforms will be required to immediately remove or block suicide-inducing information they identify and restrict its search and transmission. The government also plans to introduce round-the-clock monitoring using artificial intelligence.
If you’re thinking about self-harm or suicide, contact the Ministry of Health and Welfare’s helpline at 109, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Please request a translator for English-language services
