More Korean middle school students experience feelings of depression: data

Korean middle school students reported feelings of depression at a higher rate than high school students for the third consecutive year in 2025, according to data released Sunday. The rates were 26.2 percent for middle school students and 25.1 percent for high school students. Education ministry data also recorded 112 student suicides from January through June this year, including 43 middle school students.

The Korean Educational Development Institute defined feelings of depression as sadness or despair severe enough to interrupt daily routines for two consecutive weeks during the previous year.

In 2024, the reported rates were 27.9 percent among middle school students and 27.5 percent among high school students.

In 2023, the rates were 26.3 percent for middle school students and 25.6 percent for high school students.

A total of 244 students died by suicide in 2025, including 92 middle school students.

Published Oct 25, 2026 3:35 pm KST

The proportion of Korean middle school students who experienced feelings of depression exceeded that of high school students for the third consecutive year in 2025, data showed Sunday.

The share of middle school students who said they felt depressed accounted for 26.2 percent last year, compared with 25.1 percent for high school students, according to the data by the Korean Educational Development Institute.

In the study, "feelings of depression" were defined as experiencing sadness or despair severe enough to suspend daily routines for two consecutive weeks over the past year.

In 2024, the proportion of such middle school students came to 27.9 percent, higher than 27.5 percent recorded for high school students. In 2023, middle school students experiencing feelings of depression accounted for 26.3 percent, compared with 25.6 percent for high school students.

In the January-June period of this year, a total of 112 elementary, middle and high school students died by suicide. Of them, 43, or 38.4 percent, were middle school students, according to data by the education ministry.

Last year, a total of 244 students took their own lives, and 92 of them were middle school students.

根据周日公布的数据，韩国初中生2025年的抑郁症患病率连续第三年高于高中生。初中生的抑郁症患病率为26.2%，高中生为25.1%。韩国教育部的数据还显示，今年1月至6月共有112名学生自杀，其中43人为初中生。

韩国教育发展研究院将抑郁症定义为在过去一年中连续两周因悲伤或绝望而严重到影响日常生活。

2024 年，据报道，初中生的患病率为 27.9%，高中生的患病率为 27.5%。

2023 年，初中生的患病率为 26.3%，高中生的患病率为 25.6%。

2025年共有244名学生自杀身亡，其中包括92名初中生。

发布于2026年10月25日下午3:35（韩国标准时间）

周日公布的数据显示，2025年韩国初中生出现抑郁症状的比例连续第三年超过高中生。

根据韩国教育开发院的数据，去年表示感到抑郁的初中生比例为 26.2%，而高中生的这一比例为 25.1%。

该研究将“抑郁情绪”定义为在过去一年中连续两周因悲伤或绝望而暂停日常活动。

2024年，初中生中出现抑郁情绪的比例为27.9%，高于高中生的27.5%。2023年，初中生中出现抑郁情绪的比例为26.3%，而高中生的这一比例为25.6%。

今年1月至6月，共有112名中小学生自杀身亡。据教育部数据显示，其中43人（占38.4%）为中学生。

去年共有 244 名学生自杀身亡，其中 92 人是中学生。