Depression Cases Among South Korean Children And Teens Surge 73% Since 2020

SEOUL – The number of children and adolescents receiving treatment for depression in South Korea has risen sharply in recent years, highlighting growing concerns over youth mental health.

Data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) shows that 86,254 minors were treated for depression in 2024, a 72.6% increase from 49,983 cases in 2020.

Sharp Increases Across Age and Gender

Among those treated in 2024, 83,520 were aged 10 to 19, while 2,734 were under 10 years old, double the figure reported in 2020.

Cases among girls rose from 31,149 in 2020 to 55,199 in 2024, while boys increased from 18,834 to 31,055.

The surge among minors far outpaced the growth in the overall number of depression patients in South Korea, which climbed 32.4% over the same period, from 837,808 in 2020 to 1.1 million in 2024.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Childhood depression can manifest through loss of appetite, insomnia, anxiety, conduct disorders, or ADHD-related behaviors. Doctors typically diagnose depression when multiple symptoms persist for at least two weeks. Severe cases may require medication.

South Korea uses the Children’s Depression Rating Scale-Revised (CDRS-R) to assess severity. Medical experts warn that sudden academic struggles or a loss of interest in hobbies could be early signs of the condition.

Growing Concern Over Youth Mental Health

The sharp rise in depression cases among minors underscores the strain facing young people in South Korea, where academic pressures, social isolation, and digital habits have been cited as contributing factors.

Source: The Straits Times