Listen in English - Suicide in South Korea

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Vocabulary

among the highest [exp] - one of the highest
suicide [n] - kill oneself
measures [n] - steps
a pact [n] - a deal or agreement
Jong Hyun [p] - a Korean pop singer
high-profile [adj] - famous
industrialized nations [exp] - rich countries
barriers [n] - walls and fences
prevalent [adj] - common
warning signs [exp] - signals that something bad will happen soon
mandatory [adj] - no choice / obligation
annual [adj] - every year
the armed forces [n] -the military
social security [n] - a government system that gives money to people with a low income.

[p] - person, [n] - noun, [adj] - adjective, [exp] - expression

Questions

According to the report, the South Korean government ____.
wants to reduce the suicide rate
has started an anti-suicide advertising campaign
has made organizing a suicide pact illegal
Jong Hyun ____.
was a K-Pop star
recently committed suicide
was 27 when he died
Korea's suicide rate is ____.
the highest in the world
the highest in the industrialized world
double the worldwide average
About ____ people commit suicide in South Korea every day.
7
27
37
In South Korea, there are barriers ____ to prevent suicide.
on the rooftops of high buildings
on bridges over the Han River
in front of trains and subways
The government thinks many suicides could be prevented if ____.
economic conditions improved.
students faced less pressure to do well in school
people were more aware of the warning signs of suicide.
_____ will have to take examinations to detect depression.
University students
All adults
Adults over the age of 40
These examinations will be ____.
voluntary.
mandatory
given every month.
given every year.
____ will be made illegal.
Depression
Suicide
Suicide pacts
Suicide prevention education will be taught in ____.
university
high school
the military
The reasons for the high rate of suicide in South Korea include _____.
poverty among the elderly
the low birthrate
pressure to succeed in school
poor education

Script

South Korea's suicide rate is among the highest in the world. Now the government says it's taking steps to try to reduce it with a range of measures including making organizing a suicide pact a criminal offense. The Newsroom's Jonathan Blake has this report.

The K-Pop star Jong Hyun’s death last month at 27 was one high profile example of an all too common problem. In South Korea every day, around 37 people take their own lives. The country's suicide rate is the highest of any industrialized nation - twice the worldwide average. Barriers on high rise rooftops and bridges over the River Han, which runs through Seoul, are a reminder of how prevalent suicide is. But the government says most cases could be prevented if people were more aware of the warning signs shown by those considering taking their own lives.

Among the measures announced will be examinations for depression in mandatory annual health checkups for adults over 40. Suicide pacts will be made illegal, and suicide prevention education will be required in the armed forces.

But to explain why so many people take their own lives in South Korea, some point to a lack of social security for the many elderly people who live in poverty and the pressure young people face to perform well at school. Those cultural and economic factors are not so easily addressed by government action.

Suicide in South Korea

Published: 1.24.2018

Level 3 | Time: 1:31

Accent: British

BBC Global News Podcast (1.23.2018)

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