Prime Minister Han Seong-sook Visits Jogye Order Chief to Discuss Suicide and Lonely Death Prevention

Prime Minister Han Seong-sook said Wednesday that developing better measures to reduce suicides and lonely deaths ranks among her top priorities. She spoke during a visit to Ven. Jinwoo, chief of the Jogye Order, South Korea's largest Buddhist sect.

She recalled that Lee instructed her at the first Cabinet meeting after she took office to examine suicides along with other types of deaths and to study varied policy responses. Earlier the same day, Han received briefings on the issues from the welfare ministry, police and other agencies.

She said the government must consider how to share resources and solve problems of lonely deaths in addition to pursuing economic growth.

"One of the first things that the president told me at the Cabinet meeting after I took office as prime minister is that with regard to politics that save people's lives, we need to look into not only suicides, but also various other factors and types of deaths, and study various policies," Han said.

Han noted that rapid economic growth had produced fierce competition, leaving many people without support networks and fostering hostility. "There are many who die lonely deaths," she said.

Han was scheduled to meet leaders of South Korea's Catholic churches later on July 8.