[Lee Jung-hyun] This centre was...
established to help mentally ill people
I specialise in stress conditions
I help and treat people
who suffer from such problems
[VO] This is Seoul in South Korea.
An economic powerhouse Everyone has heard of Korean household appliances, Korean cars, computers, and beauty care products
[Lee Jung-hyun] If we look at numbers,
I have to acknowledge regretfully that the suicide rate...
in our country is very high
It's true
[VO] The fierce social competition, the need to be first in everything. They are the flip side of success.
As a result, the country consistantly tops the world ratings in 'Dissatisfaction with Life'.
GANGNAM STRESS
[VO] We are in an ambulance in the neighbourhoods of Seoul.
Someone has fallen ill at work.
And the paramedics are on the scene to administer first aid.
We approached first aid responders because they have to deal with stress every day.
They don’t just read about it in news reports, they see it all first hand.
This guy saves lives on every shift.
[Lifeguard] I think Korean society is highly competitive
Everyone wants to be first,
tries to give their all
Everyone tries to graduate from a good university
It starts with school
Earlier - preschool
Everyone wants a good preschool to get into a better school
Only a good school...
gets you into, say, Seoul University
But graduating from a good university isn't enough
You also need a good job
It doesn't just depend on education
And we're getting really stressed
Everyone puts in a huge effort to get a good job
Or you get one,
but underperform and have to quit
I think it's all too much
[Lee Jung-hyun, Psychiatrist] The culture demands that you save face
This is another problem
If society has a somewhat low opinion of them,
then both at home and at work,
people in Korea experience a lot of stress
[VO] We asked for an idea how often he has to deal with cases of suicide.
[Lifeguard] As I told you, I work in the neighbourhood of Seoul
We have a lot of suicide attempts
Especially among working women
Let's say they borrowed money and can't...
pay it back,
so it becomes a source of constant stress,
and they don't know how to get out of it
[Press officer] One second!
One second, please!
[VO] The ambulance service’ press officer interrupts our conversation.
[Press officer] Initially, you were going...
to ask about Korean society
People work a lot in this society
So, work gives them a lot of satisfaction and stress
And now you've...
moved on to suicides somehow
So, why are people committing suicide because of stress?
[VO] That’s what they call losing face.
[Lifeguard] I'm being too negative?
I'll only say good things!
[Press officer] This distinctive trait...
helped Korea grow to its current level
[VO] Park is from a younger Korean generation.
He’s not that particularly focused on a career with a large company.
He produces his own shows on a streaming channel.
But Park’s life can be quite stressful too.
[Park Tae-ho, Men’s Beauty Creator, Online Influencer] Hello, Magic Creator Park Tae-ho
Er, Magic Creator…
Oh my god!
I'm sorry
Yeah… Hello. Park Tae-ho, Magic creator
I'm responsible for beauty...
Beauty products for men
Plastic surgery
And all kinds of stuff like that...
I can't do it!
[VO] Park shows us one of the most popular and simple ways to cope with stress in Korea.
[Park Tae-ho, Men’s Beauty Creator, Online Influencer] We're going to try galbi jjim - a special dish
I'm launching a new show,
so, I'm in a lot of meetings lately
I'm always under stress
So, I decided to get some spicy food with my friends today
A lot of young people eat spicy food to relieve stress a bit
[Lee Jung-hyun] Spicy food contains endorphins
[Lee Jung-hyun, Psychiatrist] It's well-known that...
these give you a lift
Animal studies show it's true:
a spicy meal produces a good mood
[VO] Mr. Kim Kyoung Young is the head of the civil service union for local authority staff,
and at work he talks openly about stress-related issues.
[Kim Kyoung Young] In recent years, there have been 3 turning points,
3 - or should I say 2 - milestones that were turning points for Seoul
The first was 2 suicides in 2015
[Kim Kyoung Young, Head, Union Of Korean Civil Servants] 1 rookie and 1 experienced clerk
And in 2017,
another new City Hall employee
committed suicide at home
These were the most shocking events,
which brought change to office culture
[VO] The union head has come to support a rally for the rights of women who have been laid off.
The protesters are wearing burial clothes because in South Korea losing a job equates to death
[Lee Pil-ya] Unfortunately, there's discrimination...
regarding women's employment
It's true
for some Korean companies,
[Lee Pil-Ya, Korean Metal Workers Union Member] including the one I worked for
Most of the staff were women,
and they were all fired
So, we're wearing mourning clothes...
which we wear when our parents die,
in protest
[VO] For Koreans, work is a matter of life and death.
Here Seoul’s taxi drivers are protesting against Uber.
It’s a common story: Uber enters a mature market, the prices plunge, and jobs are lost.
Several drivers committed suicide after losing their livelihoods.
[Kim Kyoung Young] In 2015, 2 workers Killed themselves 3 days apart
A long-term employee did it at work
The second was new
He couldn't take the pressure from his boss
In 2017, yet another new employee committed suicide...
because of over-work
The police went
through the CCTV footage
He got to 13th floor, I think it was,
of his apartment block...
and jumped off
On December 28, 3 days later,
a similar thing happened
[VO] Work-related stress-induced suicide is only part of the problem.
This is a support group for the women whose husbands died from overwork.
They asked us not to show their faces because they were afraid of potential problems
with getting compensation from the companies their husbands had worked for.
[widow] I drew my husband here
It doesn't mean
he used to drink or smoke a lot
It shows that despite living in a society,
he was still lonely
By that I mean, he lived while carrying all his troubles alone
I remember this above all
But it was half a life
He preferred to take his feelings out...
on a drink, or to smoke
rather than burden me
with what was troubling him
And to keep smiling
[VO] Alcohol is one of the most popular ways to relieve stress for regular people.
Celebrating the end of a working week with your peers is almost a tradition in South Korea.
[Lee Jung-hyun] You may think you're relaxed when drinking
[Lee Jung-hyun, Psychiatrist] It's the most common
Along with eating spicy food,
They think they're relieving stress,
but long-term, alcohol consumption
is causing harm
With spicy food,
it's an analgesic effect
[VO] In fact, in the last few years, Friday night parties have been falling out of style in corporate life.
[widow 2] I crumpled this piece of paper...
to point out
an unpleasant bodily condition
I think that's how body and soul correlate
in those people who go to work now
[VO] Many companies are now reducing working hours
Executives are even sometimes taking to forcing employees to go home for some rest.
They even switch the power off at the end of a working day to ensure that people can’t work any longer.
Of course, those measures can’t solve the problem of people carrying on with their work from home.
And the dilemma for employees is clear: the number of working hours may well be reduced,
but the amount of work to be done often remains the same.
[participant of ‘Death Experience’ program] I tried to live right
I hope you'll have a happier life
And we'll meet in some happy place
We had tough times,
family dramas - they hurt me
Don't blame yourselves
I've forgiven you
And please,
forgive me if I said...
or did something to offend you
I love you all
[VO] This is known as 'Death Experience'. A state runs a social program.
[young man] My mother, my father, and me.
[host] I welcome you all...
to the 936th session of 'Death Experience'
Nice to meet you!
[VO] This centre has been established for a very important reason:
South Korea’s economically successful society is going through a crisis of values,
and the country is working hard to overcome it.
[Jeong Yong-mun] People should understand
there are very important things that can't be put off
[Jeong Yong-Mun, Director, Hyowon Centre] Relations in a family or with oneself
One should learn to recognise it before death
We're giving hope and strength to those who want to die
Those seriously considering suicide
[VO] The centre sets a much bigger goal than just helping to cope with stress.
Visitors are presented with one simple thought:
life is finite, and the end could be nearer than you think.
[Jeong Yong-mun] A lot of people...
think they'll live
a long life
Matters we can attend to now -
like reconciling within families, people we care about -
we often put off till later
When you make a person feel that death is real and imminent,
you push them to take care of some important things...
that were put off
[VO] After a short presentation, visitors go to a burial room, a huge hall containing of dozens of coffins.
Participants take a seat next to a coffin and change into burial clothes.
They lay down on a farewell photo and write a farewell letter.
[man] My darling,
if I die,
I'm sorry to say this,
but never remarry
Just keep on living...
with our kids,
just like you do with me around
[VO] It’s time for the funeral.
Everyone gets into their coffins, and the lids are closed.
Visitors have to spend a little time being 'dead.'
[VO] The climax of the ceremony is a rebirth.
Everyone leaves their coffins with new perspective on life and death.
[Kim Jie-un] I’m only 20
You probably know that statistically,
most people commit suicide
when they're 20
I thought...
if younger people on the verge
[Kim Jie-Un, Student] of committing suicide came here and saw
what death was before taking that step
they'd have more gratitude in their lives
[VO] Modern-day South Korea is a product of a highly competitive society.
Some might say that stress is the negative side effect.
But it has a positive impact too.
In the face of such competition, you must always strive to be a better version of yourself.
[VO] Park is heading to the temple where he’ll take a break from hectic city life.
“Path to Yourself” retreats are another popular tool for alleviating stress and re-evaluating priorities.
This is what Park is looking for.
Anyone can come here and become a novice at a temple – if only for a while.
It’s all about living like the rest of the monastery does:
dressing like a novice, sleeping like a novice, eating like a novice,
which means a dramatic change to your usual way of life.
[Park Tae-ho] This is a temple stay
[Park Tae-ho, Men’s Beauty Creator, Online Influencer] I'm hoping to relieve my work-related stress
To rid myself of the hatred and anger
that's filling me up inside
OK, shall we see?
[VO] Temple stay is popular.
The people who come here all face different issues:
some are trying to adapt to the loss of their loved ones, some are looking to de-stress from work,
some are trying to dial down aggression, and others are dealing with drinking problems.
This is a bowing ceremony.
Participants are expected to perform 80 bows. Quite a trial for a city dweller.
[Park Tae-ho] At first, it was all difficult
Bowing was hard
[Park Tae-ho, Men’s Beauty Creator, Online Influencer] But then, it felt like I got a second wind...
and it suddenly became easier
I even had a feeling I was letting go...
of the negativity
Subtitle
but at the same time
my mind is at ease
The practices give me great spiritual comfort
[VO] So how do you like it?
[Park Tae-ho] Well, I'm not religious,
but when I arrived
here at the Buddhist temple...
I instantly felt at peace
[Lee Jung-hyun] In fact, meditation does lower stress
and improves concentration
Meditation is especially helpful if you're
stressed out in general...
from everything going on around
There are even courses you can take on proper technique
[participant 2] As for work,
I'm certainly looking...
for ways to beef up my skills
<Park Tae-ho> I'd like to learn new things
And figure out if I'm on the right path in general
And if this path can take me
far enough professionally
Yes, I keep thinking about it all the time
[VO] Is it your biggest worry?
<participant 3> I guess I have similar problems
I'm a bit older than they are, by about 3 years
I'm 32
It's probably the age you start
thinking about meaning in life It's a big deal for me
[VO] Koreans are career-oriented.
Everyone is trying to find their path to success and exhausting himself while doing so.
This couple set their own business after suffering a burn-out.
[Kwon Yong-suk] Some 20 years ago I worked as a prosecutor
[Kwon Yong-Suk, Owner, Prison Inside Me Hotel] It was a tough time
I worked a lot and experienced constant stress
Because of...
my personal situation,
I couldn't just quit my job
I drank a lot, smoked like crazy
That was my way of life
I just thought:
'Gosh, living like this will be the death of me'
'And what then?'
[VO] Mr. Kwon’s job was sending people to jail.
After retiring, he decided to send himself to jail.
And build a business on the way.
[Noh Ji-hyang] It says: 'The prison inside me'
[VO] The owners of this jail are also its chief prisoners.
The couple each has their own favourite cells, and their favourite views.
Inside their jail they prefer to serve time in solitary confinement.
[Kwon Yong-suk] The food is served through a hole in the door
This space and everything in this room
is quite enough for spending
time alone with oneself
[VO] Thanks to opening the jail, its founders were also given their own freedom.
Spending time on your own is a unique variety of anti-stress therapy on offer here.
[Noh Ji-hyang] We offer a chance - it's not compulsory -
to think about your life
In solitude,
[Noh Ji-Hyang, Owner, Prison Inside Me Hotel] you learn how to be alone with yourself
How to arrange your thoughts
[VO] All mobile phones, computers and modern communication devices are banned here.
However, you’re welcome to use a pen and a notebook.
Many people start writing or drawing while serving their sentence.
[Noh Ji-hyang] Indeed, they write quite beautifully
They write with their souls
Some are really fulfilled by the writing
- their writing and others' -
and continue to write
Have you eaten?
How are you?
What a lovely breeze.
[VO] The Mapo bridge is a good example of how South Korea is adapting to stress.
Before 2013, the bridge was a known suicide spot.
Several psychologists and designers went to great lengths to turn it into a safe space.
Have you eaten?
Phrases along the railing are intending to reduce stress levels in desperate individuals.
They form a dialogue between the bridge and the passers-by.
Apart from being under constant video-surveillance, the bridge is also equipped with a panic button.
As a result, the ill-reputed Mapo bridge changed its name. It’s now dubbed “The Bridge of Life”.
After all, life can prevail against somber statistics.