Dateline: May 24

Tonight on SBS Dateline looks at whether ‘experiencing death in a fake funeral’ can help stem the tide of South Korea’s high suicide rates.

South Korea has one of the world’s highest suicide rates, with a suicide occurring every 33 minutes*.

With highly competitive job markets, some living in poverty, the pressure to look good and feelings of loneliness, the South Korean government has had to look at many preventative measures to help curve its high suicide rates.

The fake funeral service runs ads on T.V. and the program is headed up by Kim Ki Ho, a palliative care expert who obtained his PhD at the University of Queensland.

“And after the coffin experience they found that life is more beautiful”, Kim Ki Ho tells Dateline.

Hong Jin Pyo from Korea Suicide Prevention Centre tells Dateline’s Dean Cornish, “In Korea… the younger generation especially believe that, even if they die, they can just reset and revive, like in a computer game… they can learn that would be a very foolish decision.”

One method the South Korean government has invested in is ‘soul pharmacies’, vending machines that provide packs to those who need a little extra help staying positive in their day. The boxes can contain movie suggestions, maps to go for a healthy walk, lollies and positive notes. One vending machine Dateline looks at prescribes up to 83 boxes a day to those in need.

*As provided by Hong Jin Pyo, Korean Suicide Prevention Centre

Lifeline 13 11 14
Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636

Tuesday, 24 May at 9.30pm on SBS.