Suicides account for 1 in 5 international student deaths in Korea, spurring mental health calls

About one in five international students who died in Korea over the past six years took their own lives, prompting calls for stronger mental health support. The Ministry of Education said 84 international student deaths were reported at Korean universities from 2021 through this year after surveying about 350 universities. The ministry also said international student enrollment reached 307,464 in April, up 21.3 percent from a year earlier.

Accidents, including traffic accidents, caused 34 of the 84 deaths, the largest share among the reported causes.

Illness caused 23 deaths, suicide 15, undetermined causes seven and other causes five.

Annual deaths were 12 in 2021, 16 in 2022, seven in 2023, 13 in 2024 and 21 in 2025, with 15 recorded so far this year.

Suicides among international students were four in 2021, one in 2022, zero in 2023, five in 2024, three in 2025 and two so far this year.

The education ministry unveiled a strategy earlier this month to strengthen university and community support, including adaptation program indicators in its International Education Quality Assurance System review.

Published Sep 21, 2026 1:03 pm KST

Updated Sep 21, 2026 3:38 pm KST

About one in five international students who died in Korea over the past six years took their own lives, fueling calls for stronger mental health support as their numbers in the country continue to grow.

According to data the Ministry of Education submitted to Rep. Kim Moon-soo on Monday after surveying some 350 universities nationwide, 84 international students at Korean universities died between 2021 and this year.

Accidents, including traffic accidents, caused the most deaths at 34 cases, followed by illness at 23, suicide at 15, undetermined causes at seven and other causes at five.

The annual number of international student deaths was 12 in 2021, 16 in 2022, seven in 2023, 13 in 2024 and 21 in 2025, with 15 recorded so far this year.

Suicides fell from four in 2021 to one in 2022, then dropped to zero in 2023 before rising to five in 2024, three in 2025 and two so far this year.

International students often face difficulties adjusting to life in Korea, including language barriers, unfamiliar culture and academic stress.

In 2024 at Chonnam National University, the death of an African graduate student, who had struggled with academic stress, drew calls for schools and education authorities to pay closer attention to international students' mental health.

According to the education ministry, the number of international students at Korean universities, including graduate schools, reached 307,464 as of April, up 21.3 percent from a year before.

Earlier this month, the ministry unveiled its strategy for international students, pledging to strengthen university and community support to help them settle into academic and daily life.

The plan includes strengthening indicators in areas including adaptation program operations when evaluating universities under the International Education Quality Assurance System, which certifies universities based on their internationalization capacity.

"Rather than focusing on increasing the number of international students, we need a careful prevention system so that they do not take their own lives," Kim said, adding that existing mental health programs should be strengthened for early suicide prevention.

If you or someone you know may be at risk of suicide, contact Korea's Suicide Crisis hotline at 109. For foreign language assistance with emergency services, call the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline, or call Danuri Portal's helpline at 1577-1366 to connect with multilingual counseling and referral services.

过去六年间，在韩国去世的国际学生中，约有五分之一是自杀身亡，这引发了人们对加强心理健康支持的呼吁。韩国教育部表示，在对约350所大学进行调查后，2021年至今年，韩国高校共报告了84起国际学生死亡事件。教育部还表示，今年4月，韩国国际学生入学人数达到307,464人，比上年同期增长21.3%。

在已报告的死亡原因中，事故（包括交通事故）造成 84 人死亡，其中 34 人死亡，占比最高。

疾病导致 23 人死亡，自杀导致 15 人死亡，死因不明导致 7 人死亡，其他原因导致 5 人死亡。

2021 年死亡人数为 12 人，2022 年为 16 人，2023 年为 7 人，2024 年为 13 人，2025 年为 21 人，而今年到目前为止已记录到 15 例死亡。

2021 年国际学生自杀人数为 4 人，2022 年为 1 人，2023 年为 0 人，2024 年为 5 人，2025 年为 3 人，而今年到目前为止为 2 人。

教育部本月初公布了一项战略，旨在加强大学和社区的支持，其中包括在其国际教育质量保证体系审查中纳入适应性计划指标。

发布于2026年9月21日下午1:03（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年9月21日下午3:38（韩国标准时间）

过去六年里，在韩国去世的国际学生中，约有五分之一是自杀身亡。随着在韩国际学生人数的持续增长，人们呼吁加强对国际学生的心理健康支持。

根据韩国教育部周一向金文洙议员提交的数据，在对全国约350所大学进行调查后，2021年至今年期间，韩国大学共有84名国际学生死亡。

事故（包括交通事故）造成的死亡人数最多，达 34 人；其次是疾病，死亡人数为 23 人；自杀死亡人数为 15 人；死因不明的死亡人数为 7 人；其他原因造成的死亡人数为 5 人。

2021 年国际学生死亡人数为 12 人，2022 年为 16 人，2023 年为 7 人，2024 年为 13 人，2025 年为 21 人，而今年到目前为止已记录到 15 人死亡。

自杀人数从 2021 年的 4 人下降到 2022 年的 1 人，然后在 2023 年降至零，之后在 2024 年上升到 5 人，2025 年上升到 3 人，而今年到目前为止是 2 人。

国际学生在适应韩国生活时经常面临诸多困难，包括语言障碍、文化差异和学业压力。

2024 年，全南国立大学一名非洲研究生因学业压力过大而去世，此事引发了人们呼吁学校和教育部门更加关注国际学生的心理健康。

据韩国教育部统计，截至4月份，韩国高校（包括研究生院）的国际学生人数达到307464人，比上年同期增长21.3%。

本月初，教育部公布了国际学生战略，承诺加强大学和社区支持，帮助他们适应学术和日常生活。

该计划包括加强国际教育质量保证体系下大学评估指标，该体系根据大学的国际化能力对其进行认证，其中包括适应性项目运作方面的指标。

金表示：“与其关注增加国际学生的数量，我们更需要建立完善的预防体系，防止他们自杀。”他还补充说，应该加强现有的心理健康项目，以便及早预防自杀。

如果您或您认识的人有自杀倾向，请拨打韩国自杀危机热线 109。如需外语紧急服务协助，请拨打韩国旅游热线 1330，或拨打 Danuri Portal 的求助热线 1577-1366 联系多语种咨询和转介服务。