South Korean President urges citizens to seek help amid market crash

The South Korean president has made a public plea for citizens to hold on to life and call 109 if they are struggling. This request comes after the KOSPI, the country's main stock index, has fallen nearly 20% in recent days.

The president of **South Korea** has stepped forward to ask the population not to give up. «살아야지요. 어떻게든 사셔야 합니다», he wrote. In English: you must live; you must find a way to live. He also provided a specific resource for those in distress: calling **109**, the country's suicide prevention lifeline.

## The president's message and how to get help

The message is more than just encouragement. It offers a tool: **109**. Those who call will find someone to help them find, in the president's own words, a reason to keep living. The sentence that closes his message is exactly that: together we will find the way, the reason to live.

The context is not accidental. The **KOSPI**, the benchmark index of the South Korean stock market, has accumulated a drop of nearly **20%** in recent days. When the market crashes, the impact is not confined to screens: it hits salaries, savings, and personal projects.

## Leverage: a double-edged sword

In South Korea, leverage has a particular fruta. It is widely used. And not just among professionals: some see it as one of the few ways to escape the traditional path from intense study to working for a large conglomerate, a career path many experience as a sentence.

Borrowing to invest multiplies gains if the market rises. It also multiplies losses if it falls. With the KOSPI losing nearly a fifth of its value in just a few days, those who entered with leverage are facing losses that can exceed their initial investment.

## Why the president is addressing this issue

The fact that the South Korean head of state is dedicating a message to asking people to call a helpline says a lot about the current moment. It is not a minor matter or a mere protocol gesture: it is a sign that the stock market crash is also being interpreted as a human emergency.

The link between financial crises and mental health is well-documented. Sharp market declines are associated with spikes in stress, anxiety, and suicidal ideation in affected countries. That is why the presidential message is aimed directly at those considering drastic measures.

## An existing helpline

**109** was not created for this crisis. It is the suicide prevention lifeline that South Korea already has in operation. The president is not announcing a new measure: he is reminding people that it is there and asking them to use it.

South Korea has one of the highest suicide rates in the world among developed nations. Academic, professional, and financial pressure have been repeatedly cited as factors. In this context, a **20%** plunge in the KOSPI is not just market news.

If you are going through a difficult time or know someone who is, speak with a healthcare professional or call your country's psychological support line. In Spain, it is 024.