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A bronze statue on Mapo Bridge offers hope to South Koreans in preventing suicide. | |||||||||||
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SEOUL: The suicide earlier this month of a famous South Korean baseball star has again shocked the nation.
Cho Sung Min, a former pitcher for Japanese baseball team Yomiuri Giants, and the former husband of actress Choi Jin Sil, was found dead with a belt around his neck in the bathroom.
The actress Choi had also taken her life in a similar way in 2008.
For years now, South Korea has had the highest rate of suicide among countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.
But the news of Mr Cho's death has again raised questions about what's being done to stop this.
The Mapo Bridge has been referred to as the 'Bridge of Death' as there have been more than 100 suicide attempts from the bridge in the past five years.
Last year, the Seoul City Government decided it was time to do something about it - to try and reduce that number and turn the bridge into a 'Bridge of Life'.
And so in September 2012 - signs with messages have been placed along the bridge.
There are also pictures of babies - smiling faces - to remind those who want to end their life that their loved ones are waiting for them.
Mapo Bridge is one of the 25 bridges spanning the Han river which divides Seoul.
Some 50 people have successfully taken their own lives by jumping off the bridge.
Because it's still a new project, there are no statistics to show if it is preventing suicides.
But a government official thinks it's working.
Mr Lee Duck Gi, Seoul City government official. said: "There are people who share their experiences (in our blogs). Some teenager wrote that he went to Mapo Bridge once, determined to end it all. But there, he found messages 'talking to him' and he became curious about what the next message had to say. And at the end, instead of finding the perfect spot to jump off, he just crossed the bridge."
The Seoul City government had initially thought of erecting high fences along the bridge.
Mr Lee said: "But that would only make the person change the venue. It doesn't change the person's mind. We decided on this because if the person feels there's someone out there who he can talk to and cares, then it's possible to change that person's bad intention."
And at night - when most people attempt suicides - the slogans light up with inspirational messages - like how are you doing? Did you eat anything today?
South Korea's suicide rate has been the highest among developed nations for the past nine years.
More than 15,000 South Koreans take their own lives every year - that's about 43 people committing suicide every day.
It's the number one cause of death among teens and those in their 20s and 30s.
Experts say one of the main reasons for the country's high suicide rate is its culture.
Dr Kang Do Hyung of Seoul National University Hospital said: "In our country, the society evolves around groups and collectivism more so than in the west. And so when there's a suicide, a family member or friends tend to think it's my fault."
And since suicide is still considered a taboo subject, many who need help are not able to talk about it openly.
Ha Sang Hoon, Head of Lifeline Korea (a hotline for people in distress), said: "People are afraid they will be stigmatised in this society, and so they don't talk about suicides in the family."
But the topic has again hit the headlines in South Korea - with the death of Cho Sung Min.
His former wife, Choi Jin Sil, a famous actress also committed suicide in 2008.
And in 2010, the late Ms Choi's brother also took his own life.
Experts say it's time for South Koreans to start talking about this because this is no longer someone's else problem, but something that could affect every household.
- CNA/de
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/eastasia/view/1247396/1/.html
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