Chatting with Prof. Hur Ji-won, a Psychology Expert at Korea University
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Translated from JoongAng Ilbo using AI and edited by our team
Korea's mental health landscape is witnessing a transformation, with the government focusing on accessible counseling services as well as evidence-based treatments. Let's take a closer look at the key developments unfolding across the nation.
The National Mental Health Psychological Support Program
This groundbreaking initiative offers cost-effective or free counseling through 23 service providers. A recent study[1] of 320 participants found:
- Improvement rate of 83.2% in depression symptoms (PHQ-9)
- Anxiety reduction of 82% (GAD-7)
- 51.4-67.3% of participants moving from clinically significant to subclinical severity levels[1]
To maintain quality, this program emphasizes performance evaluations, therapist training, and a centralized monitoring system[1].
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services
Korea's government is focusing on early intervention, which includes school-based mental health screening and specialized counseling programs for the next generation. While details regarding exemptions remain elusive, the emphasis is placed on preventive care and minimizing the stigma surrounding mental health support[4].
Workplace Mental Health
Companies like Hanwha have launched anonymous, non-face-to-face counseling services in 2025, allowing employees to seek advice with discretion concerns[5]. Although not yet a mandatory requirement, these corporate efforts align with national strategies to promote mental health.
Exemptions and Legal Aspects
The focus remains on accessibility rather than blanket exemptions. However, the Ministry of Health and Welfare guarantees provisions for privacy protection and cost management through insurance-covered or subsidized counseling[1]. In extreme cases calling for disability accommodations, personal assessments are conducted; though the specific exemption rules beyond anti-discrimination laws are not elaborated in available records[1][4].
The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs advocates expanding community-based services to cut down on institutionalization, reflecting a move towards local, patient-centered care[1].
- The national mental health landscape in Korea is undergoing significant changes, with a focus on affordable or free mental health counseling and evidence-based treatments.
- The National Mental Health Psychological Support Program, a groundbreaking initiative, has resulted in an improvement rate of 83.2% in depression symptoms, an anxiety reduction of 82%, and a decrease in clinically significant severity levels for a considerable percentage of participants.
- In the realm of child and adolescent mental health services, Korea's government is concentrating on early intervention through school-based mental health screening and specialized counseling programs, emphasizing preventive care and reducing stigma.
- Companies like Hanwha have introduced anonymous, non-face-to-face counseling services, allowing employees to seek advice discretely, which aligns with national strategies promoting mental health.
- The Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs is advocating for the expansion of community-based services, a move towards more local, patient-centered care, to reduce institutionalization in mental health treatment.
