The suicide of a South Korean movie star who hanged herself after succumbing to depression illustrates a tragic trend in South Korea where more people than ever before are killing themselves.
Lee Eun-Joo (24) was found dead inside the walk-in closet of her bedroom in the southern suburbs of Seoul on Tuesday.
Behind the glamour and wealthy lifestyle, she had been a long-term sufferer from depression.
Police said she had killed herself and had left a suicide note written in blood in which she asked her family to forgive her.
Stunned fans and friends members, singing songs and chanting prayers, paid their last respects as her body left a hospital morgue for a cremation service on Thursday.
She took her life when her career was taking off after starring in a 2003 blockbuster, Taegukgi, and a popular TV series, Fire Bird, last year. She had also secured lucrative contracts for commercial ads.
Experts said Lee was one of many South Korean female movie stars who are exposed to severe depression.
”Many entertainers here, including top actresses, are suffering from depression of varying degrees. Some famous entertainers are being undermined by serious depression,” said Kim Jeong-Il, a psychiatrist.
”Korean actresses are much more prone to depression than those in other countries as Korean society still tends to look at them in a leery and condescending way,” he said.
In traditional Korean culture, entertainers are looked down on and acting is considered a low profession.
Last month, a confidential document was released on the internet, disclosing murky rumours of secret affairs, illegitimate children, drug use and sexual promiscuity.
The 113-page document, put together by a top advertising agency for the purpose of rating entertainers for contractual value, exposed South Korea’s 99 most bankable stars, including Lee, to public ridicule and contempt.
Another psychiatrist, Oh Kang-Seob at Kangguk Samsung hospital, said movie stars tend to be hit by serious depression after finishing films in which they have put everything into their role.
Oh said Lee’s suicide highlights the issue of depression in South Korea, where people tend to hide even the slightest psychiatric problems for fear of being treated as mentally ill and facing ostracism.
About 25% of South Koreans suffer from depression of varying degrees of severity, compared with 10% in advanced countries, according to Kim Jeong-Il.
Oh said that of those suffering from depression in South Korea, 15% attempt suicide and one out of 10 succeed.
Statistics show an alarming growth in suicides over the past four years as the country has undergone an economic slowdown and resultant layoffs.
In 2000, almost 15 people out of every 100 000 people committed suicide in the country — about 20 men and nine women.
The rate went up to 15,5 in 2001, to 19,1 in 2002 and to 24,1 in 2003, with 33,2 men and 19,8 women.
”This is an alarming trend. Depression is a curable disease and good medications are out there. Suicides also can be prevented,” Oh said.
”Korean people must change their anachronistic attitude toward mental disorders and must not hesitate to see doctors when they feel depressed,” he said. — Sapa-AFP