A recent study showed that South Korean children were the least happy with their lives among the OECD member states. One out of five children and teenagers said they felt the urge to commit suicide at least once.

In the report released by Yonsei University’s social development research institute this week, the “subjective happiness level” among South Korean children came at 82 points, the lowest among the 22 researched OECD members.

The score was calculated based on the OECD average of 100 by asking their level of happiness. Spain showed the highest at 118 points. Countries with points in the 80s included Hungary, Belgium, Canada and the Czech Republic.

South Korea’s happiness level has remained the lowest at 60s and 70s levels since the research first began in 2009. The score jumped briefly to 90.4 last year, before falling to the lowest again this year.

The survey was conducted on 7,908 elementary to high school students nationwide (Jejudo Island was excluded). They were asked about their sense of happiness regarding their health condition, school life and personal situation.
(Graphic: Nam Kyung-don)