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Subject | (¿µÀÛ¹®)The Land of Suicides. Where to Now? | ||||||
Name | ¹ÚÁ¾¼º | ||||||
The Land of Suicides. Where to Now? An Editorial contributed to Chungdae Post August Issue The Land of Suicides. Where to Now? All of sudden the land of morning calm has turned into the land of suicides. Indeed, for the past several weeks we have seen a string of suicides in our society. The news that Chung Mong-hun, the chairman of the Hyundai Asan Group, had jumped to his death from an open window on the 12th floor of his company's headquarters sent shock waves around the world. However, this was not an isolated case. Suicides are increasingly common in Korea and unless we take preventative measures this trend will continue. In what follows, I shall offer some analysis and suggestions. Obviously suicide emerges as a serious issue. According to statistics, in Korea every day 36 persons commit suicide. Last year the total number of suicides was 1,355, nearly double the number (778) of the previous year. This year the figure is certain to rise due to business failure, economic hardship, poverty, heavy debt, and tough entrance exam competition. Let's chart chronologically some suicide cases of recent months. On July 17, a desperate Inchon housewife threw herself and her three young children from the top floor of an apartment complex. She had been pressurized by debts caused by credit card loans. Again, on July 31, an Ulsan housewife killed her two children and threw herself from the 13th floor. On July 24, a high school girl in Seoul left a short note and hanged herself after a poor performance in school exams. On July 31, in Seoul once again, a pregnant high school girl jumped out of a window of an apartment with a friend who was despairing over her poor performance in school exams. On August 1, the owner of a small business in Busan hanged himself with an electric cord due to mounting pressure to repay debts. Then on August 4, Chung Mong-hun killed himself, marking the culminating point of the suicide cycle. What should be done to stop the boiling anger and black despair that lead to suicide? In the first place, we should realize that it is not morally right to turn a blind eye to the miseries and injuries of those around us. Second, it is necessary to create a climate for dialogue and debate in families, communities, schools, and companies. In the city, particularly in apartment blocks where people are left as individuals, units, and cells, channels for communication need to be established. Further, in schools, a team spirit rather than a spirit of hot competition should be taught. Third, the government should provide income support for the poor so that they can sustain themselves. Fourth, safety regulations on buildings and apartments should be tightened. Windows and balconies need to be designed so that cannot be used as prime sites for suicides. There is a widely accepted view that the 'foolish' act of suicide is a sign of protest against a society that is corrupt or absurd. That is why every instance of suicide deserves attention. Yesterday Chun Tae-il burnt himself to death and became a martyr of the labor movement. Today Chung Mong-hun is emerging, albeit prematurely, as a martyr of the process of improving South Korea-North Korea relations. We need to listen to the alarming message that suicide delivers to the public. At the same time, we need to stop the vicious cycle of suicides. The best-selling book Anger by Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese monk, addresses the need to contain and divert anger. Alas, those who committed suicide this summer did not hear Thich's whispered words of wisdom. About forty years ago, Robert Frost wrote about the destruction of the world, saying "Some say that the world will end in fire, some say in ice." In my view, both fire and ice are equally destructive. By fire and ice, I do not mean such natural disasters as volcanic eruptions and avalanches. Rather, I mean minds filled with hatred and indifference. Now is the time to restore the spirit of care and concern on the land of suicides. Jong-Seong Park (Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature) ¡°ÀÚ»ìÀÇ ¶¥ Áö±ÝÀº ¾îµð·Î?¡± °©ÀÛ½º·¹ °í¿äÇÑ ¾ÆħÀÇ ³ª¶ó°¡ ÀÚ»ìÀÇ ¶¥À¸·Î º¯Çß´Ù. Á¤¸»·Î ¿ì¸®´Â Áö³ ¸î ÁÖ°£ ¿ì¸® »çȸ¿¡ ¹ú¾îÁø ÀÏ·ÃÀÇ ÀÚ»ìÇàÀ§¸¦ º¸¾Æ¿Ô´Ù. Çö´ë ¾Æ»ê ±×·ìÀÇ È¸Àå Á¤¸ùÇå¾¾°¡ ÀÚ½ÅÀÇ È¸»ç º»»ç 12Ãþ¿¡¼ â¹®À» ¿°í ¶Ù¾î³»¸° ÀÚ»ì¼Ò½ÄÀº Àü ¼¼°è¿¡ Ãæ°ÝÀ» ÁÖ¾ú´Ù. ±×·¯³ª ÀÌ°ÍÀº ´Ü¼øÈ÷ ÇϳªÀÇ °í¸³µÈ »ç°ÇÀº ¾Æ´Ï´Ù. ÀÚ»ìÀº ÀÌ¹Ì Çѱ¹¿¡¼ Áõ°¡µÇ´Â Ãß¼¼¿¡ ÀÖÀ¸¸ç, ¸¸ÀÏ ¿ì¸®°¡ ÀÌ·¯ÇÑ Ãß¼¼¸¦ ¸·À¸·Á´Â ´ëÃ¥À» ¼¼¿ìÁö ¾Ê´Â´Ù¸é Áö¼ÓµÉ °ÍÀÌ´Ù. ¾Æ·¡¿¡¼ ³ª´Â ¸î °¡Áö ºÐ¼®°ú Á¦¾ÈÀ» Á¦½ÃÇÏ°íÀÚ ÇÑ´Ù. ºÐ¸íÈ÷ ÀÚ»ìÀº ½É°¢ÇÑ »çȸ¹®Á¦·Î µîÀåÇß´Ù. Áö³ÇØ Àüü ÀÚ»ìÀÇ ¼ö´Â Àü³â 778¸í¿¡¼ °ÅÀÇ µÎ ¹è¿¡ °¡±î¿î 1,335¸íÀ̾ú´Ù. 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