The Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Photo by Asia Today
Jan. 12 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's death rates from suicide and infectious diseases such as tuberculosis were higher than the average among member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development in 2024, while deaths tied to traffic accidents, crime and fires were lower, the Interior Ministry said Monday.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety released its 2025 regional safety index based on 2024 statistics. The index compares regional safety using mortality data across six categories: traffic accidents, fires, crime, daily life safety, suicide and infectious diseases.
A total of 23,112 people died across the six categories in 2024, up 1,226 deaths, or 5.6%, from the previous year, the ministry said.
Traffic accident deaths fell by 31 to 2,334. Suicide deaths rose by 894, the ministry said. Deaths tied to daily life safety incidents increased by 264, infectious diseases by 73, fires by 24 and crime by 2.
