How Koreans Feel About K-pop Idol's Suicide | ASIAN BOSS
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- čas přidán 11. 09. 2024
- Special thanks to Rose, our volunteer reporter from Seoul.
The opinions expressed in this video are those of individual interviewees alone and do not reflect the views of ASIAN BOSS or the general South Korean population.
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Music: Dan Sieg - A Sense of Wonder
• Dan Sieg - A Sense Of ... (Provided by Silk Music)
Some viewers might not appreciate the fact that in Korea, as well as in other Asian countries, it's incredibly challenging to get random people in front of the camera for a street interview. So we are extremely thankful to our interviewees for participating and sharing their honest opinions. To all our viewers (Asian Bosses) - it's okay to disagree with their opinions and to express your own views. But as Asian Bosses, we hold ourselves to a higher standard of dialogue and debate. What we won't tolerate are groundless and inflammatory personal attacks on the interviewees and on fellow Asian Bosses who comment. Asian Boss is all about bringing people's voices together to have real conversations about issues, so keep it respectful.
It is sad that suicide is a huge problem every where in the world and hopefully that will change one day. RIP Jonghyun.
Go you! Drawing the line👏👏
I was waiting for this, so thank you for educating us and providing the common people perspectives.
True
well said. there's no place for ignorance on this channel
This video just made me realize that Korea's reaction to suicide is like America's reaction to mass shootings it just happens so often you almost become numb to it unless it's directly affected you.
Lynnea Blair-Cox I’m so glad I found a comment that said this! I thought the exact same thing.
a good comment
That’s exactly what I thought watching the video
You can't be too sad about certain tragedies ... especially ones you couldn't control. You need to save your energy for better things.
@@nora4981 you can still be sad, it's called empathy.
Thank you for making this video. As a fan of SHINee who saw Jonghyun perform just days before everything happened it's still quite a difficult, even eerie, fact to hear, believe and accept. But I deeply understand that this topic is something that desperately needs to be discussed more. The way it was discussed and spoken about was very respectful, sincere and informative. It is my hope that this video can help fuel a much needed discussion as well as lead to actions that contribute to less stigma and more support surrounding mental health care.
Brynnabat I'm a shawol but have been disconnected from k-pop for a whole due to higher studies (to others: i'm a doctor, so please don't judge me on why I stopped following k-pop). Is there any way to find out if fans reached out to him after his last concert? He looked so broken In his final concert, I have never seen him that way. I'm cent percent sure somebody reached out to him. Shawols are sensitive people. Why couldn't he be saved? I'm haunted everyday by these questions.. what transpired in the final few months? I don't want this happening to anyone else..
onew oppa saranghae I hope it’s okay to tell you about this.
I live day by day with chronic depression. Thoughts of suicide have lived in my head for a very long time. I honestly cannot say exactly how I have prevailed this long. But I can explain what it’s like from the inside.
Being depressed is like carrying around a huge burden - think of a great big rock bigger even than you are. It is heavy. It is exhausting. It is painful. People on the outside look at you and say, “Just put it down.” But they can’t see that it is attached to you in the same way that your shadow is attached. It cannot just be set down.
It plays tricks on you, this burden. Some days it is a little easier to carry than others. Some days you can almost forget that you have it. But this ease never lasts long. And when the full weight of it returns, it returns with a vengeance - stealing your will to carry on right out from under you.
Fighting depression is not unlike fighting cancer. Some find that undefined ability inside them that holds them up through the fight and brings them out the other side victorious. But some, no matter how hard they fight, cannot overcome the determination of the disease and they lose their battle.
We easily understand that people with physical illnesses can be lost to their disease or “give up the fight” so to speak. And we are able to find it in ourselves to rejoice for them that they are no longer in pain and free from the exhausting fight.
We should find away to give this same understanding to those that lose their fight with a mental illness as well. We must remember that they loved us and were not trying to hurt us or make us feel like we did not do enough to save them.
Sorrow will always be a part of saying goodbye to someone, no matter how they leave us. But if they made the choice to go for themselves, there is no need for blame or guilt to be placed or felt by those left behind.
Wendy Smith I suffered from depression myself. Anxiety mostly which led me to have depression for a few years till I finished high school wen I decided I won't take pills anymore to fight this. So I totally understand what you are trying to say. I respect his decision. As a fan or even just as a human being, you always think 'what if?' he had so much to come. If you read his letter, he did want a way out of this. He wasn't giving up until the very end!! He did say that the doctor was not helpful unfortunately. My poor jonghyun deserves more and he deserved better. Suicide ain't the solution to depression even though it does end the person's pain. Also in the last few days of his life jonghyun was ALONE, he was someone who had spoken to his friends about suicide before! He shouldn't have been alone. I'm sorry I don't accept suicide as a method of letting a person to stop their suffering. It's just my view. I respect yours. This world is way too big and is full of solutions for those who seek it. Jonghyun is a victim of poor mental health care and nothing more. Sometimes even a lot of help isn't enough. Getting the right type of help is what matters. Who knows, he probably wanted to be saved and chose the extreme step because he ran out of options.
I hope you are not having a tough life. From me to you, only thing I have to offer you is hope, hope that your spirit is bigger than depression. That love is your medicine. Love yourself a lot. And stay alive. Lots of love.
onew oppa saranghae ,
Unfortunately I'm really not sure. I have these wonders as well. Even when I was there I noticed something was a bit off with his facial expressions and the way he spoke, and that did put me off, but I also acknowledge the fact that it's so hard to figure out what's wrong solely by facial expressions. He didn't say anything particularly alarming either, so that makes it more difficult. There were still a lot of moments when he smiled and laughed and played around with us. I know Shawols are sensitive people who have a good insight into how our boys feel, but it can be hard to reach out to someone you don't have the phone number of or know where they live. As far as I know, I don't think Jonghyun attended any events or went anywhere high profile in the days after his concert, so it might have been difficult for fans to get in touch with him. As I know he gave his letter to his friend on the days of one of the concerts, it is my hope that she tried to reach out. I wish I could say more with certainty, sadly I don't think there's a way to know for sure.
she did reach out and went to Jonghyun's concert with his mom
Thank you for uploading on this topic. Depression is definitely a topic that is hard to talk about in Korea and Asia so I really liked that the interviewees were very open minded and understanding towards the subject. They know that depression is one of the highest in their country and I’m glad they want to see change. I really like what the guy said about taking 3 actions: Ask, Care, and Escort! When one is in depression, it’s hard to seek help but if others ask you and care for you, you definitely will seek for help. JongHyun had said that a bad way to comfort someone is to compare them and instead, people should listen to the depressed/tired person’s situation! I really do hope mental illness is not seen as a stigma worldwide and that people can openly talk and heal from it! Once again, thank you Asian Boss for touching on this subject! Rest In Peace JongHyun, you did well!!!
Totally agree with you vivi chan
This channel is better than some news channels on the TV... Their content is so good and the questions asked are really pertinent and make people think about the subject. As a Portuguese student of social communication and journalism I will say that they do all the things that I'm being teached that a good journalist does! Keep this up. Such an awesome channel.
Patricia just as a sidenote, you mean things you're being taught
Maria de Abreu yes.. Omg now I realised that mistake xD thanks for correcting me :)
Patricia não tem mal, acontece a todos xD
Cá em Portugal infelizmente também não falam muito neste tipo de assuntos. Principalmente nas escolas, onde o stress por vezes é maior
Patricia I think it feels that way because we get to hear the thoughts and opinions of common people, and don't just have the news thrown at us. I'm not saying that's necessarily always a bad thing, but it means more to hear opinions from regular people.
here is the fact, jonghyun did talk a lot about his depression. he was really open about it, but we didn't know what to do. That's why these "what if" questions poppin in both fans and his close friends head. I wish we can learn from this, never underestimate depression :')
I agree. I wasn't his fan or Shinee's, but just as a fellow human being, reading his letter and seeing how much despair and hopelessness that he must have felt when he was reaching out for help to those around him really broke my heart. I hope his death wasn't for nothing, and people will learn how to support those struggling with mental disorders around them and for themselves.
하라이 when people don't know what to do, n no one to listen that was very hard enough to live life
Dino pup... what do you mean by allowed have gf?????can u please explain
@@tanujakhatun2086 by having a gf he would have someone to talk to and someone who would love him and take care of him it is awkward to talk to your friends about your struggles and all it helps you knowing there is someone who truely loves and cares about you.whom you can trust and share things with.
Ohh so the idol doesn't allowed to date anyone
Your Korean and Japanese videos on suicide were really well done! The interviewees gave really good advice!
First step to solution is awareness. Thank you for sharing this video
Brian Choi we are all aware. We shut it out
@@chris.mc.8627 not everyone is
@@fugosfork7907 we very much are. The people who do not realize it, are people who dont care about it. Hence, they shut it out.
For those who do realize, they also shut it out because they want to satisfy their own selfish agenda of idolizing their "perfect" k pop celebrity.
Kpop and the culture of repressing ones feelings can onlumy result in higher numbers of depression, since its taboo or even unacceptable to break character for kpop idols
@@fugosfork7907 but I agree with you to some point. Say, foreigners who are not as fluent in korean culture, who end up believing things at face value.
@@chris.mc.8627 i see, I wasn't really talking about Korea, just in general.
Asian Boss is my number 1 place to find proper reviews from the people. I truly hope Korean government does something for its people as being number 1 on suicide scale is just disturbing. Hope the unfortunate recent events makes people who struggle with depression reach out for help. To anyone struggling with depression or suicide thoughts, as someone that tried to commit suicide twice I can say is that cherish your life. It might be horrible at the moment but things DO get better. I am so happy I didn't succeed with the suicide. And even though until this day I can have bad depression, I find things to live for and I hope you all do the same
Anja so agree.
As someone that suffered depression since I was a kid this video is a great source of encouragement and information. Is it true that depression makes you feel is all your fault and most of the time there is a huge stigma and burden. Thanks Asian Boss!
To be honest i stalked him a bit and in my opinion he COULD have been slightly homosexual. And that is obviously not something that can be easily confessed to in korea especially as a star. The depression might have sth to do with his sexuality.
Shu C. im sorry but making theories on „why he had depression“ doesnt seem really appropriate. he had depression and it doesn‘t matter WHY he got it. it‘s not relevant at all
It kind of is as it proves again that pressure from kr society fking sucks
Shu C. His sexuality wouldn’t have been much of a problem considering he openly supported LGBTQ people and events, and often he spoke out about his depression. Jonghyun doesn’t deserve theories and baseless assumptions on his death, especially since he’s tried for so long to help himself and others only for it to be thrown back into his face.
o!rul8,2? Is he special so that you can not make assumptions? And as you said he supported such stuff and in general seems very feminine to me so my assumptions are not baseless. And it is very revelant because not many depressions end in plain suicide.
I appreciate how frank these people are being by not sugar-coating what happened and why it likely happened. Only by acknowledging that there is a problem is there any chance of making changes to resolving it.
Rip to my brother Jonghyun. He done well and more than enough.
Depression is a mental illness. It's not just feeling severe sad. It feels pitch black emptyness in your mind. Constantly at war. It's hard to even put in words to describe what it is. I'm facing this at the very second. You can look like you're fine but on the inside you're being torn apart. I'm a suicide survivor. Anti depressant makes the pain feels worst and counseling isnt much. This could last for a lifetime.
Even as kids or as an adolescent, Adult they can't be stressed out since they don't do much. Students are stressed out because of their education. Told to work regular jobs and to abandoned their unpredictable dreams. Told to live by society standards. Money is the root of happiness and all your problems will go away. Blue collars are stressed not getting enough to get by. The cycle born to school, go to college, work till you and die. What kind of life is that? Fundamentalist, collectivist countries suffer greatly from like South Korea. No matter who or what your occupation is, the world is depressed altogether.
Jonghyun had a expensive supercar, he was good looking, he was famous and had a fortune. That didn't matter to him because he wanted to be achknowledge for his work and to know that he matter. He did regret becoming famous because before he debut he didn't know what it came with.
I understand and resonate with him.
Correction. South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the developed world. My country Guyana has the highest suicide rate in the world, it's just no one talks about it :(
Guyana? This is the first time i heard that country
Yeah very common response
that's why they said oecd countries
I think of suicide when I think of Guyana, because that was the location of Jonestown, the site of a mass cult suicide back in the 70's
I've heard of Guyana actualy. I come from Sri Lanka; also one of the highest rates of suicide in the world. The reasons here disperse from poverty, depression, social pressures, heart break, not succeeding in school and many more tied to stigma.
I have been waiting for this. Thank you. It was insightful. My dad was a seafarer who frequently went to South Korea. I would always tell him of how jealous I am with how he goes to Korea almost every year but he told me that there are truths beyond the KPOP and Kdrama scene. I got annoyed then but when I finally went to Korea, I realized that what he said was true. It came directly from our tour guide who said that it’s important for their children to be at top universities. Koreans are also very workaholic. Even at midnight, the city is very alive and you’ll see people walking around as early as 5AM. For some reason, Koreans are also very concious. Things that I don’t worry on a normal basis seem to be a huge issue to them. To be honest, I believe the Korean society should stop thinking of what others say and go for their own goals and dreams and I think they should embrace their individuality and be supportive of one another.
남들다하는흔한사랑한번못해본놈 which part? I’m not even white.
Are y'all talking bout your pfps
남들다하는흔한사랑한번못해본놈
I always see you annoying other people in the comments, what's up with that?
I agree,. From what I have perceived so far, from the native Koreans that I know, it seems that they do care a lot about what others think. I think Korea is an awesome country in many ways, and I'm proud of it, but in this aspect, I do hope there is a change.
What the heck is that! Bait comment maybe?!
Thank you for creating amazing content!
Hello Asian Boss and Asian Boss Viewers. This report had great content. I worked for mental health organizations for over five years and with all the knowledge before me it's still hard to face my own problem. I'd tell myself I'm okay just a bad day just need to sleep. That's all I did was sleep and work. Very little food. I know these signs but it couldn't be me. You see a lot of African-Americans will not believe that we can be depressed. It's like "Black don't get depressed! After all our ancestors went through in America they didn't get depressed! They kept going so you can exist!" You feel guilt and shame. Thank God I had a physical that day. I went in crying and my doctor got me the help I needed. Please pay attention to the obvious signs too. Nobody thought much about me sleeping 11 or 12 hours a day. They just thought I was tired. Please pay attention. Who knows what would have happened if I didn't have a physical that day. Thanks for reading.
Sending so much love... I'm so happy you got the care you needed
I have the same... But i went to a psychiatric and he said i need to schedule my sleep hours :l so you need a good dr too i am happy you found one. I hope you feel much better now
Melissa Wall m
How do you know blacks didn't get depressed back then? I am sure they did. Blacks are people too. Not everyone in any race gets depressed but some do. I think America is more apt to take advantage of the medical help; although I do not know what help is offered in Korea.
Why would they say things like that?
This Interview should be broadcasted nationally
남들다하는흔한사랑한번못해본최강의전사 well your coment is also shitty quality too.
The last guy in the video sums it up well.. ask, care, escort.. how I wish jonghyun was never left alone..please don't leave depressed people alone.. their thoughts engulf them in a cruel manner and they cannot defend themselves..please care for them and remind them that there is still love in this world..
The ppl u interviewed had a really open mind and great in sight the older lady surprised me the most since I hear that older people in Korea tend to be very conservative and closed minded. But I really like her perspective and take on things. Also the Ask,Care, Escort guy I liked him too he even came with good advice.
Depression is different for each person. For me it's like drowning. You want to shout and cry out but no one listens. The water weighs you down. You try to swim up frantically beating the water around you but the more you try the more deeper you go. You are alone and you are helpless and you give up trying, losing all hope. This just goes on everyday again and again and again...it's hopeless for you or the people who want to help...
People should learn to be more compassionate to each other... Suicide is preventable. All you need to do is listen...
It is commendable that people are ready to talk about these problems. Thumbs up for the video.
Bijees Mohammed If someone wants to check out, it's their business. They didn't ask to play this game. They were forced into it by self-centered breeders who saddled them with the responsibility that they didn't get the chance to accept or reject called life. For those who do not like suicide, do not drag people into such a dark world where a multitude feel so disgusted that they want to off themselves.
If you want to talk! I’ll be more than gladly to talk to you! Will be willing to listen we’re here to support each other 💕😇
You can always talk to me 💖💕 my twitter is @sorrybae_planet
I dont really text people with things other than that
*I'll give you air*
I can't thank you enough for all the videos you make, but I need to thank you especially for this one. Thanks for putting this theme on the table, as it is said in the video, this kind of conversation needs to be made in order to make things better. Keep going!
The fact that you guys included "K-pop idol's suicide" instead of mentioning Jonghyun in the caption really shows your sensitivity to this issue. It is still very difficult for many of us to hear the words Jong's death, suicide, and the like. Thank you for being so considerate.
Also, I would like to thank you for discussing this. Its really sad how most of them accepted that they once had thought about committing suicide. I hope all of us learn from this, I hope Jonghyun's passing brings awareness about how imp it is to talk, to seek help and to realise that you're not alone. Thank you.
It's very sad to know that suicide has become a common thing 😪 Whenever bad thoughts come, there are two things that will always comfort me :
1. Little things. Like rewatching all 16 eps of Goblin 😂 or watching another youtube video (like this lol)
2. God. I know religion can be quite a controversial topic to some but it feels really nice to know that someone's looking out for you, and that He's a plan for you.
Same I also think of all the negative things that will come out of a decision like that
And what If I don't believe God? I can't believe in him so I don't feel that someone is looking for me
It's too much working/society pressure in countries like Japan or South Korea.
Mr Nippon
Whoa dude! I love your videos! I can’t believe it! Yes, I agree they need to slow down and enjoy the beautiful scenery their country has!
Doe John
Thank you very much!:)
Im married to korean and we are working in korean company in europe..and yes work,work,work is all korean do and thinks about. My husband dont want to go to work on saturdays but he have to because his boss is going to work as well or he says to him to go...and whats the issue is that they go to work even if they dont have to go... my husband says there is no hope for change its heritage or should i write damnation...and as far as i know in korea u dont have any social system from state...so if u are unemployed or sick u or your family have to pay for everything...as well single mum just doesnt exist in korea because they not provide any money for mums..its so odd..one of the countries with so many high tech...its struggling with building social system...and suicide rate in high schools is very bad,big and sad probelm :/ the change must come from politics..imho
Thank you Asian boss! You're the reason why I want to become a better person every single day by watching your videos!
Alex Lee ook
I've been a fan of Jonghyn since 2010 and I want to thank you for *finally* talking about suicide in Korea. My sister and me have some close Korean friends who are actually living in Korea. What I noticed is that it can be extremely difficult or even impossible to talk about certain topics with Koreans. They would rather talk about/ reply when I send them pictures of food or some other superficial stuff. Yesterday my sister brought up suicide and Jonghyun in the chat for the first time, and my friend just said she didnt follow the news recently (although it was everywhere, like, come on...), even though she loves talking about superficial stuff *all the time* and even offered to skype shortly aftrwards. I have noticed the same thing with my Japanese friends. When I told one of them that I want to go study in Korea, she said "take care, the North is dangerous right now". When I replied to that, the subject was immediatemy shifted - the converstation seemed to have gotten too deep again. It doesn't need to become political - just a normal TALK. Don't small talk, guys, talk!
I do know that suicide is not very lightly spoken of. Like in America, I hear the phrase, "I'm going to kill myself" a lot, and it's very carelessly said in a joking matter. Being Korean American, I was also used to saying it without thinking twice about it. But one time, I was talking with my cousin who is living in South Korea, and I was telling her about the SAT that was coming up, and I said, "aargh, it's so hard, I'm going to kill myself," of course, not actually meaning it. And my cousin actually gasped, and in a shocked voice, she was like, "Don't say stuff like that so carelessly." And it actually made me ashamed. I've never spoken that phrase again.
I totally relate to what you wrote... but without generalizing it, I would like to add that even some of my friends seem to take depression or just "I'm not feeling ok" attitude like this (I'm from Europe btw). When you purposely state you're not doing okay, some people will turn their heads, pretend they didn't hear it. Maybe because we are unconfortable and don't know how to deal with this information. That can also be one of the reason someone thinks twice before asking for help. There is a serious lack of awareness.
I tend to associate this with online social media behaviors. It's easy to scroll down, to choose what to see, to respond with a :( , "ohhhhh", or TT emoticon. What do you talk about during spare time ? "oh you know, this fluffy doggy doing cute stuff on fb, blabla bla." I don't say we shouldn't spend time talking about "light/superficial topics" but just to don't hesitate to imply oneself in a deep talk, also to be more sensitive and observant to each others.
I think you misunderstand. Korea isn't more shallow or superficial than anywhere else in the world. It's just that talking about depressing topics brings the general mood of the conversation down, and this is considered bad etiquette in East Asia. Just like how crying or showing emotions publicly in Japan is considered awkward and impolite because it might make others around you feel awkward. Sadly they would rather just pretend everything is fine than talk about depressing subjects. Jonghyun was one of the first celebrities willing to have an honest and open dialogue about mental illness and personal struggles. Young people embraced him but I don't think older the generations of Korea were ready for it.
It is sad that people would rather avoid negative conversations than elaborating solutions for it. Maybe they do it because they've convinced themselves that talking about it makes them feel bad. It could also be that they've felt deeply depressed in the passed and don't wanna remember the feeling. This is bad though; bottling things up rather then sharing potential solutions....
H. L. I dont think the comment is underestimate korean poeple, the comment just wanted the korean poeple more taklactive and more open about what is really happen. And disscus it freely without any social burden.
I've really been hit hard by Jonghyun's passing this past month and seen so many stupid people try to get views/likes by talking about him. This video however was about more than just Jonghyun. This is about starting a conversation in his name and actually talking to each other about a very difficult subject. I'm glad this tragedy can at least be used for good, be used to educate the unknowing. We can't get Jonghyun back and that breaks my hart but maybe we can try to save some others in his name.
One thing I noticed when I lived in Korea as a gyopo was the lack of choice in Korean society. I met a lot of young Koreans and the mindset is all about getting the best job you can with the best income. In the UK and Australia which are my other countries you can choose everything without judgement, but the pressure of the one-track mind is so ingrained in the Korean system.
Not just in Korea, but in Asia general.
there is lots of choice
you can become school teacher
businessman
a barman
a barrista
car mechanic
anyone
종현이 죽음에 관한 내 마음정리를 다 못해서 그런건지 아니면 내가 꼬여서 그런건지는 모르겠는데 진짜 마음상하네요. 종현이가 연예인이기 때문에 죽어서도 사람들 입에서 오르내리는구나 라고 생각했어요. 저는 무심코 이 영상을 보게 되었지만, 다른 샤이니 팬들은 이 영상 보지않았으면 해요 상처받고 아파할 수도 있을테니까요.
꼬여서 그런게 아니라 그 사람을 많이 사랑했을수록 더 언급되는게 싫은건 당연한겁니다.
Depression is like a slow poison..it slowly kills u from inside. Mental health should be given more priority in our society's. I appreciate u for this video.
Actually it is not just young fans that are affected by his passing. Internationally he had fans from very young to quite old fans. I think it hit people especially hard who have been struggling with depression. My friend and I saw SHINee in concert last year. We are both over 30 and it seemed very personal when we heard of his passing.
Sad enough Shinee was one of the group I liked back then when I just got to venture the Korean wave in 2008 and JH happened to be my favourite. I knew Asian Boss will cover this topic someday after the tragic death of JH and I’m glad they did it very well. I may not be the only one who couldn’t get over the fact that he is gone just like that when it could’ve been prevented. I’ve suffered with depression and suicidal thoughts all my life and I very much understand why they did it. I hope everyone take their time and reflect upon themselves. It’s scary when your ignorance could be the death of somebody. It doesn’t even cost anything to be a nice caring person. :’(
The profits from Jonghyun's latest album "Poet | Artist" will all be going to charity to help those struggling with depression and thoughts similar to the ones Jonghyun was feeling. I hope even with that maybe society in Korea will change a bit. It hurts too much to lose wonderful people because no one could properly help them relieve their suffering. No one should suffer for things like school work or pressure to be the best. I really hope things get better :(
I saw the notification for this video this morning and thought, "no, I don't want to hear about Jjong anymore, I don't want this to be the only thing people remember about him, just let him go." I finally collected myself enough to watch it just now, and. Thank you. Thank you for having the discussion. Thank you for treating his death as a human tragedy rather than a gossip piece. Thank you for the respect and consideration that you brought to a topic that will affect us all, in one way or another, at some point in our lives. I am so grateful for this video. Thank you.
Thank you for sharing this video! My husband (korean) told me that people who go to psychologist cuz of depression cannot find a job easily in korea cuz everyone would think they are mentaly sick. Why they would be? Its natural to go and talk about your problems. It doesnt need to be depression, anything you want to talk about but you are maybe shy or scared to talk about with your family. I love Korea but i hope this way of thinking will change soon. Thank you again for bringing up this topic:)
that ahjumma was lowkey woke lol
Which one
As a person who is struggling in life I felt that time just suddenly stop and can't move forward since I can't seem to land a job and whenever I want to do something that might bring me a little success something happens to prevent it so watching videos like this one kinda help me get my mind from it and reflect that it just the beginning and I should take it easily. So thank you Asia Boss and please continue doing the videos.
as one of those fans who has had the thoughts of suicide and has struggled with depression, i think it is important that we as shawols remember that as much as jonghyun hurt inside, he would adamantly tell us to take care of ourselves, to not do as he did. depression twists up your perception of your own life but we must remember that jonghyun would want us to stay alive and be happy, and if you cant be happy, then know your struggle wont last forever and you CAN hold on till then. i believe in you, shawols, and i think jonghyun believes in us too.
ZWar101 This is really comforting, actually. Thank you for writing this. That said, with what you have gone/are going through, please do keep taking care of yourself!
im glad my words made an impact for you. thank you for the well wishes, and please, you take care of yourself too
Yes. ❤️ I have no doubt that our angel will help and guide us from above. It's never easy to move on from things like this, from losing such an amazing person who brought so much light into my life.. however, together, with the support and help from Shawols as well as so many others, we'll slowly heal. Maybe not completely, but we'll heal and Jonghyun will help us in doing so. Take care of yourselves and remember that our angel is most likely jumping from cloud to cloud and singing Ring Ding Dong while sprinkling healing dust onto us. ❤️
Thank you for this excellent piece of journalism! Great job with a serious and healing conversation about such sensitive subject..
Rest in peace Jonghyun, you did a very well 💗
Asian Boss, I really hope this wouldn't get lost in all the comments here because I really want you to read it: Thank you very much for these kind of videos. I admit that as a western, I find it hard to understand Korean ( or Asian in general) mentality on certain topics like this one- depression. A topic which is highly talked about in the society I come from, and the awareness is high as well. I just couldn't understand why a country like Korea and it's high suicide rates does no show more awareness. This video was very informative and helpful, so thank you for that.
I started crying as soon as I heard his name again..
Your Japanese and Korean interviews on this subject were great! As a half Japanese, a born Canadian and someone who has suffered from depression for a large chunk of my life, I've grown up fully seeing the large differences between the two countries when it comes to mental health.
I can't say it's the same everywhere in the America's (since I'm not sure) but my school curriculum has Mental Health education integrated into it. It is mandatory for us to learn about mental health, illnesses, ways to help, and where you can get the said help. It also really helps that our country has become more open to this topic, and receiving help doesn't have the same stigma it did before (I'm not saying there isn't any stigma though.) and I can confidently say that where I am, help was always there for me to access when I needed to. I'm lucky. And I believe that, education is one of the best ways to create long-lasting change. If you teach about mental health to children at a young age, it'll not only give an universal understanding, but it could save their life, or the life of someone else.
But growing up in an Asian family, it made it really difficult to even express my want for help, and when I did they had such a false definition of what depression was and so in the end I just said I was joking. In many asian countries, especially those such a Japan and Korea, where the level of competitiveness is always at an all time high, there's always a consistent pressure to perform well and just the lack of openness to the topic really is a problem. Like the lady in the video said, it really is a problem when you see this kind of news and just dismiss it because its become the norm. Just because it's the norm, doesn't mean it's good or should be left alone. I feel that this misinformation is something that just keeps being carried through to the newer generations, and even if the new generation doesn't really agree with it, it's difficult for young Japanese or Korean people to take a stand due to how they grew up and the overall culture. I believe education on this topics should be deemed necessary to even just start erasing the stigma around reaching out or even talking about it.
Jonghyun... Kim Jonghyun is just one example of the many. He showed us a strong will and his desire to try to get better, but in the end even after reaching out (which is so hard already, but in his situation as an celebrity it must've been almost unimaginable) he didn't receive the help he needed. he even asked for help. I just find it so upsetting he didn't receive it. I also find it unsettling and wrong that the doctor didn't help him properly, because you do not blame someones personality if they have depression, which is something sad that happens in Asia a lot (to many in the older generation someone who is suffering from depression or has taken their life is/was considered weak, naive, useless, a failure etc.). I was able to receive the help I needed, he wasn't. If he was here, he most likely would've as well. I hate knowing that real help does exist, just not where he was. I just wish that doctor would've referred him to someone in that area of expertise instead... Rest in peace you beautiful soul. You did well.
We need to start taking steps, no matter how small to: bring awareness to mental health, make accessible (and preferably optionally anonymous) help and outreach, and create overall acceptance, which is a lot, especially in countries like Japan and Korea where these health issues are so dominant yet so brushed over. We need to make change. And something tells me that this may be the generation that brings that change, hopefully to Japan and Korea too.
Once again, great video! Thank you!
That ACE: Ask, care and escort thing is a really good one, be there for the ones you love!!
It's sad that if you're young you're stressed about education. You get older and you're stressed about college. You get older and you're stressed about work. Then your love life then your children if you have any. Then the circle continue. When do we rest?
I appreciate your efforts so much it must have been incredibly hard to get people who are willing to talk about sensitive issues such as mental health and suicide.
The lady saying that we appreciate materialism and that's the root cause of all the competition. She is one smart lady maybe because she has been.through that phase. I hope it gets better. Thank you Asian Boss for bringing this topic.
This was an amazing video, thank you so much for keeping doing these types of videos - they're amazing and so so informative. I'm really grateful to have this insight into another part of the world.
this is.....i'm so used to (being a US Citizen/living in US) friends asking "hey whats wrong? are you ok?" when I'm a little on the downside. even strangers will see my facial expressions that I don't realize I have and ask if I am alright....but in SK it seems no one tries to ask if that person is ok. to try and reach a hand out.....its sad.....but because of the culture I can understand. things need to change:( feeling alone is the worst. can I just hug everybody like what the heck:( Not saying no one tries to help but the majority seem not to because its perceived as weakness. what a world we live in.
남들다하는흔한사랑한번못해본놈 I understand:)
I think that Ask, Care and Escort is a very important thing that people should keep in mind.
Personally, I think that with that mentality the stigma around depression and other mental health issues can be adressed properly.
It is a very intelligent way of taking a step forward towards the right path.
And definetely as Steve said, sharing is another good strategy.
Thank you very much Asian Boss for the video, just this video can help other people see that they are not alone, they can feel identified with the people interviewed and want to take action themselves.
This video will also help raisw awarness, thank you very very much.
Everyone, now is the time to stay strong and take a step forward.
(English is not my first language, sorry for the mistakes in advance haha)
Thank you so much for bringing this subject up. I’m new here but I’m very happy that I subscribed. Keep up the good work, Asian Boss!
Psychiatrists in Korea should do something, a campaign or something to alert the society about mental health! It happened so many times should not be an excuse to say, "oh it's another suicide". Instead you should change your mindset and say, "this cannot happen again, let's do something about this!". Remember, you can't change the whole world, but you can change SOMEONE'S world.
I live with depression and anxiety and without Kpop I would of done things that would harm myself, drugs etc but I found kpop as an outlet because idols really care about their fans as a family. Basically has saved my life multiple times. Buy what about the korean citizens and the celebrities?! That have depression or mental illness? I get teary eyed thinking about how Korea has so high suicide rate and it's like mental illness still isn't taken too seriously. I often think about Jonghyun and how did he feel? What could I have done to help? What and how can I help his dream of mental illness be taken more serious in Korea? I am not korean. But since the day I found kpop (age 15 I'm 26 now) I wanted to know more than just Korea entertainment. I genuinely want to learn Korea language, culture and history. When I was 15 I decided since Korea has helped me so much with my depression and anxiety that my dream job is to give back to Korea and I am majoring in psychology because I want to become a therapist and move to South Korea (live a couple years or more) and help mental illness be taken more seriously there I want to help reduce the suicide rate! I want to help the citizens there! Because they saved Me!
Korean society definitely needs more people like you ! I hope you can be part of the change they need so badly
Years later I'm still broken about Jonghyuns death. After him it's Sulli, Goo Hara and the such. Jonghyun was very open about depression and even in his suicide letter explained he went to get help. I just hope he knows he did so well. I miss him all the time. Sometimes like a deep wave of disbelief that he's gone. 😔
in 2023 also Moonbin and Jung Chae-Yul died was depressed before they committed suicide.
I will willingly admit that I have been badly depressed large parts of my life. Not right now, thankfully. I must say that my greatest disappointment was not with the average person around me but with the so called professional care.
Sebastian Kumlin Sorry to hear that. But glad that you are feeling better.
I agree with those saying that it's the pursue of material things, competition from an early age, comparing yourself and your value with others, working even during weekends, etc. I know that it's more complicated than this, but this is how I feel about the matter.
I think people need to understand that depression is complicated, also Jonghyun being an idol beings difficulties too.
Idk if these below are any reasons Jonghyun was feeling but they are just examples that came to mind:
I see a lot "why did he kill himself he had money and fame" but just fame and money can't make you happy in life, money can't buy you happiness. Yes fame means popularity but once you are popular to an extent there isn't going back, you can't always necessarily be "yourself" (sometimes companies give you a specific image) because you are always being "watched" my fans or in media. Also you can't do the simple things in life anymore without being followed or bothered. (Eg going to get coffee or just going into town) Yea the idol life looks fun and probably is fun in some aspects but a lot of Idols have spoken up and said that it's very lonely...you get only a few minutes to go and show what you have been training for (maybe half of your life sometimes) (Resource: Taeyeon interview) and maybe you don't get the appreciation and you deserve. Trainee period is very hard, if not the hardest parts of becoming an idol in my opinion.
This video made me tear up in the beginning... but I'm so grateful for this video and everyone who was willing to talk about it. I 100% agree with the man who said that education should include understanding how depression works and how to know the signs. So many things in school we don't learn about, things we will most likely face in life.
Also Ask, Care, Escort!!! YESSS. I will remember those words. It's one thing I really wish could have perhaps prevented Jonghyun's suicide... that he hadn't been alone in that hotel room. That he hadn't been alone that day period. As much as he had been thinking about it and planning it... and it wouldn't have been a garantee that he wouldn't try it again later.. but still every detail and attempt to prevent it from happening counts. I know his family and friends tried their best at the time... but there's no way I feel I could have left someone alone knowing they were considering death. I know everyone has their life and responsabilities... but that doesn't mean they couldn't have assigned someone to be with him, as humiliating as that would maybe feel for Jonghyun, it would have been in his best interest. In the end nobody is to blame, I wouldn't blame any of his loved ones and those that loved him... I know that. It's just hard to face these little details... and that we will never know all of them to what lead to this -- other than to always take depression seriously no matter what the degree or treatment needed. You can't play around with it. And to never ever stop trying to find your ideal treatment, to never stop trying to live another day.
Asian Boss never disappoints. It was a very touchy topic, but it was handled carefully and respectfully. Thank you.
This is EXTREMELY important to talk about. Thank you
I think depression still has many misunderstanding and stigma? From Jonghyun's passing, I see a lot of comments, including Korea and international comments, don't even know depression and blame Jonghyun could've 'think' his way out of it....they think depressed people are weak....it's not like that, sadly, I've seen many nasty comments towards depression.
It's like South Koreans live under so much pressure to be near perfect in life.
It's still kinda doesn't entirely feel like he's gone. The news came so sudden that I thought it was a joke or some kind of meme at first. But then I saw multiple posts mentioning the same thing and a news article. I'm not a fan of Shinee. Never really listened to their songs or watched videos so had no idea that a member of Shinee was going through that. But he let nobody know what he was going through. He was suffering to the extent he decided to end his own life...
His death was a huge shock to me. It was through his death that I realised just how serious depression can be.
_You did well Jonghyun._
_You were great._
Anusha San He let everyone know what he was going through.
He spoke with everyone.
He did everything his south korean citizen condition allowed him to do.
He said in songs, on radio, on tv, in everywhere, to his friends, to his company, in his sns, to his therapist...
Instead of acting recklessly, creating scandals, saying fuck it to everything, he just believed in the ignorance of others around him and blamed himself for something that it was absolutely not his guilt. It was in fact, the opposite. He was actually everything to others that his society will never be.
His nationality is what took his life from him. Not himself.
He held this distress and torture for so long because of his mother and sister. He committed to sacrifice him for the stability of his mom and sister. There is sincerely no flaw in his character. Not only as a singer, an idol, a composer, an artist but as a human. There is sincerely nothing wrong that he did during his whole life. And this makes all this absurdity even worse.
All they did was to neglect and ignore everything.
Thank you for bringing this up. The fact that they mentioned copycat suicides is ironic, because I had those thoughts for a month after his death. "If someone as amazing as him can t live well, how can i?" I was thinking like this. Let's all be strong shawols, and let's fight to make mental illness an important thing to learn about in Korea! It's not a flaw, It's who we are. But we have to do something to stop this.
CORRECTION: depression does NOT affect EVERYone. it affects ANYone.
my sister and i spoke about depression a while back. i have experienced extreme depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies. currently recovering. i never told her about my suicidal tendencies but we spoke about depression. she's never experienced it before. my best advice to her was, i hope you never get to experience it. it's something i would never wish even on my enemy.
I lived in Korea for almost 3 years, and I really appreciate this video. Even as an outsider, a lot of these issues are very noticeable in Korea, and as everyone else, I too hope that the view of mental illness in Korea changes.
Yup! You're right, every country has it's own issues.
So much pressure put on them that I somehow sympathize with them.
1. Pressure to be beautiful that they resort to cosmetic surgeries just to get decent jobs.
2. Pressure to go to good universities and have good grades in school that they barely have time to sleep.
3. Pressure to do mandatory military service for 2 years that they have to sacrifice and endure those years in dire situations in the camp and away from family and friends and cannot even contact them.
4. Pressure to get good jobs after graduation and work in a very competitive society where status is everything.
Being a Korean is tough...
Yes I feel you Korea. I sometimes don’t know why I’m studying so hard ... to get a better job ? No that’s not what I want. I just wanna lead a happy life but here in Japan to live happily you need to graduate from a good uni ... that’s so stressful I think
As someone who's been suffering from depression for years, I want to thank you and the interviewees for this video. I hope that by talking more and sharing our own experiences we can overcome the stigma surrounding mental illness and suicide that's still very much prevalent in modern society. I will always listen to and support anyone who is suffering - you're not alone
Emilie Tazelaar you are not alone either. Fellow survivor of depression here 🙋
The most important thing to take away from these conversations is to remember that no situation is permanent, conditions change, and one's life CAN improve. I am extremely grateful that I never went through with suicide when I was younger because there is so much joy (and struggles) that I would have never experienced. Life is a gift.
It's quite funny because in America, the stigma is (mostly) gone with regards to therapy but the issue now lies in such a poor healthcare system and privatized insurance, resulting in those who want to get help being unable to. There is also the issue in America about the prescription drugs being abused or misused by practicing professionals. But I feel the reason America doesn't have as high of a suicide rate is because we aren't forced into such competitive academic or work-related environments, that I feel is the driving factor in suicide rate. You have to have balance in your life and you have to be able to live it after you've worked for it.
This was absolutely excellent! Thank you so much for using your platform to talk about this subject, especially knowing how difficult that can be. Asian Boss and the entire crew did an amazing job. ♥️
I lived in Korea for over a year, and I think that Korean society in general doesn't even fully understand what clinical depression is, and what the difference between just having a shitty day or being in a difficult situation and feeling upset about it than to people who are seriously struggling every single day to live, even if their life isn't full of extreme hardships (although of course hardships can contribute to depression). Depression is a mental condition, where you are biologically affected and your hormones are at abnormal levels, which is often completely out of one's control. This is something that often times cannot be cured by just going and hanging out with friends or exercising. Many people who suffer from depression can't even get out of bed, and often times don't have any concrete reason as to why they feel so upset. The people suffering from depression need to seek professional help, and the stigma needs to go away. People should not feel ashamed for seeking help for symptoms of depression, and as said in the video, it can affect ANYONE from any background. I fell in love with this country and culture when I was there, and it frightens me that Korea continues to be such a harsh and unforgiving place for people who are different from what ancient, conservative society dictates as normal, and that mental illness is considered an unacceptable weakness. I do agree that things are changing and openmindedness is growing, but it is just not happening at a fast enough rate.
Thank you Asian Boss for bringing this difficult topic to light.
I agree. They seem to think depressive mood = depression. But with all the pressure, competition and shame culture that is honestly there, I can see how the mental pressures of that on everyone leads them to conflate the issues. The problem is professionals should know the difference and they don't seem to (in Jonghyun's case he was seeing a therapist who was very dismissive of his problems).
I don't think we can really judge from Jonghyun's case. We don't know the full story with what happened with the therapist, and I don't like that so many are just filling in the missing details with their assumptions. I believe that we should not be drawing conclusions about something that we are not completely sure about, especially having to do with mentally ill patients. All I know is that, no good changes ever happen at a fast enough rate. I'm just relieved to hear that this topic is being talked about in Korea and that awareness of mental disorders are spread.
Having lived and worked in Japan, and having researched Korean human resources practices for academic purposes. I can say with full certainty that I NEVER want to be employed by companies that adopt that kind of work culture (Korean or Japanese). I experienced a lot of toxicity in Japan at work, and I have read countless accounts of needless toxicity in Korean schools and companies. A lot of companies in Asia do not prioritize the mental health of their workers.
It is really sad. I wish there were more voices speaking out in Asia to lessen workplace hazing and unhealthy competitiveness in the workplace, as well as other issues that lead to poor mental health for workers and students.
We all need to work to live, but living to work- and then not supporting a healthy after-work life is dangerous and inhuman, if you ask me.
Love that you included the Ask, Care, Escort part in the video! Great way to give people tools how to act if they are worried about their loved ones.
More than just suicide in Korea, I think this video helped me understand Korean society better in general... Thanks for the good content!
Depression is so unique to each person .. sharing is caring .. and really hearing someone, can make all the difference ~^^
By the way Good job to the reporter! You did a great job asking thoughtful and relevant question while facilitating the conversation in a constructive manner. Much Respect :) also I agree with some of the other comments, is there anyway to look at this from the other Asian country’s point of view? Eastern Asian culture in general still see mental health as a stigma, it would be great if we can facilitate the conversation not just in Korea, but in other cultures as well. Keep up the good work!
I can't thank you enough for this video. But still THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
Thanks for bringing up this subject. Mental illness (be it depression, bi-polar, PTSD etc.) is a taboo subject in many countries but more so in South Korea (highest suicide rate for an OECD member state). The culture in S.Korea is one of high stress, both education and professional causing a fragmented family structure. To reduce mental illness, 1) Stop labelling metal illness where one is ridiculed or has brought shame onto oneself or society, and instead treat this like any other human condition. 2) Further education to increase awareness and teach others to recognise the symptoms. 3) The Government will need to play a larger role through investing back into its citizens and also rebuild trust in its citizens, and that by reaching out for professional help, their data will not be used against them.
over here, school is really very very very tough and a LOT of people including myself kept on "joking" about wanting to die or commit suicide and even though i know that its a serious issue that shouldnt be "joked around with", it was really indicative of how we felt and other than "joking" about killing ourselves, socially, we had no other outlet to voice our frustrations. It was only after our final national exam where my friends started opening up on them actually considering doing something like that (including me) and it was so infuriating that this happens to SO many students and nothing is done to improve the situation
come to India And find How difficult it is here in schools
im from singapore, and i may sound like a privileged, whiny brat but, its rly bad, im in school up sometimes over 12 hours a day, then more tuition classes or study sessions til late at night before going home and i see people having anxiety attacks and mental breakdowns every day
I really worried about this video being exploitative when I saw the title, but it was an excellent watch. Thank you so much! This is a service to Jonghyun's memory, and to the many, many people whose battles with depression are fought on a day to day basis.
I think the cause of depression is South Korea is the very things that built South Korea to the amazing place it is today... everyone worked so hard to make the country thrive like this, and humans have a constant need to evolve, improve, etc. Culture is a scary thing, and South Korea's culture may be adapting too fast for the people to be able to handle.
This came in my recommendation now,
2 years later and we still are witnessing the demise of some our favorite artists. I hope 2019's incidents would be a major wake up call for everybody.
I hope the suffering would reduce and people become more considerate of 'suicide'
All I can add is I was depressed for three years. It got to where I thought it would not end. Then, suddenly, I had one good day. It's not that I was never depressed again, but I had hope that I'd have another moment like that. And, slowly, but surely, I had many more days if happiness. My main thought is that if I ended my life at any point during those three years of misery, and I came close, look at all the happiness I would have missed out on. Sometimes you just have to think of yourself as a leaf blowing in the wind and let go. Randomly, you will wind up in a place of happiness when you least expect it. Let go of the idea our fates and moods are totally under our control. Making an A or getting a great job won't make you happy, necessarily The happiest people I ever saw were children wgo had nothing in a Central American slum playing on the streets. Happiness is just something that cones and goes with the wind over which we have little control. Remember, though, it is feast or famine, not famine or famine. I waited three years for my feast and got one day. It was enough to save my life. It will come, a happiness that is worth sticking around for.
MrCarlGW i wish i could love your comment 100 times instead of just liking it, but thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your wisdom and experience. I'm so glad I read that, and it touched me so deeply.
사랑의뭔가요? 과자이름인가요? 맛있나요?? Take care of yourself bro. I know it might seem like it doesn't matter but feeding your body a balanced diet, showering regularly and getting a good amount of exercise in could help a lot with your mood. It is also good to be grateful for little things, even if it's something as simple as a passing meal or a small child telling you hello on the street. Be kind to others, even if doesn't feel genuine, just because you can. Would you consider therapy? Dying for your country can be noble, but it is also good to think about serving in life. Think about it: how can you be better to yourself?
사랑의뭔가요? 과자이름인가요? 맛있나요?? Yes, I highly recommend a low carb diet, walking and exercise. You can build. a nice exercise program around only walking, pushups and squats. While running and weights can add a lot, getting rid of inflammations from carbs and simple, consistent exercise helps the mood a bunch! Obviously, alcohol, drugs and excessive weight only make us more depressed. Give it a year. Find a sport you can share with friends. I took up disc golf at age 63. Seriously, try! You can do it!
Huge respect for the interviewees out there I could feel their honesty they're so brave~ thank you and thank you Asian boss
My mom committed suicide last year from depression which left me and my sister alone. I wish the treatments for depression would have been more helpful so that she would still be here with us.
i am sorry for your loss. stay strong
One thing i Love about Asian Boss is that reviews come from different people. Elder, older, young, teens, adults... we get to see different perspectives from different generations whom are exposed to the same incident but impacted differently. It’s amazing. Thank you Asian Boss for your wide coverage.
This reminds me of my country, Venezuela. We have the highest murder rates in the world, therefore when somebody is killed nobody is surprised. It's the norm. The same way Koreans see suicide as the norm. Very sad.
do you know whats really sad? super juniors leeteuk posted a really worrying insta post and knetz were so unsympathetic and calling him an attention seeker. the lack of regard for human life is not only worrying, its disgusting. a great start would be for society to have a better understanding on how depression manifests into suicide.
Yes, and when BAP's Yongguk was diagnosed with anxiety disorder, other people called him attention seeker as well and that he was faking it to get his groups fame again.
leeteuk is a jerk who is trying to appropriate jonghyun's tragedy for himself, that's why netizens are angry. sorry, I know he has also suffered with depression and he has my sympathy for that, but he always made rude comments about people's weight, looks, etc. jonghyun was so polite and kind, he would never say anything to hurt other people's feelings. this is why people are angry with leeteuk, because he's pretending to be a sweet, sensitive guy when he's not. jonghyun was a real sweet and sensitive guy. possibly the nicest person in kpop.
This video brought tears to my eyes.
Even though I'm not a Korean citizen, I'm well aware of the pressure most of them are under in their everyday life. I have suffered from it myself, and what hit me the most was the feeling of guilt and shame for being depressed. And one of the hardest step is to aknowledge that you have depression, you're not just being sad or down.
In Korea, I wish there were more awareness about depression (the mental illness) and less and less stigma around mental illnesses in general, because it prevents people from getting help, and it's already a incredibly hard step to do when you're in a supportive environment...
In my opinion, it should be handled in middle and high schools, where it probably begins for a lot of Koreans, and caried in companies. That would be a start to make the population more and more aware of these problems, even though this kind of process takes time.
To people struggling with depression, feel no shame to feel what you feel. It helped me to understand that Depression is not WHO I AM, but an invisible SHADOW that was crushing me over. Depression is the enemy to fight, you are not your own enemy.
I'd also like to add that it seems near to impossible to fully grasp what depression feels like to people who haven't suffered from it. It may depends on one's sensitivity, but from my experience they don't. They assimilate it to feeling blue or down, which can feel diminizing to the person actually depressed, and the perfect example to this is what the man with ginger hair said. Everyone feels sad and say "I'm depressed these days", but maybe, some of his friends that have said that to him were actually suffering from depression and he unknowingly shrugged it off with his reply. He couldn't know, as I said, I don't think it's your fault for not understanding and knowing such things.
Again, to people with depression, those who reply to you that way simply don't understand in what abyss you have fallen because they have never been themselves. It takes more than saying "I'm depressed" for them to get that you're in a critical situation. Find someone you trust and that care for you a lot, and explain to that person exactly how you feel, the depth of your feeling, in order for that person to aknowledge it as well.
It’s nice to hear their opinion.. it’s sad how it’s become more like a normal thing for people to have depression but it’s good that the stigma is slowly fading. I think that’s a little step towards getting better
I wasn't a fan of the band or really new any of his music. Not that into the mainstream music of Korea, but I cried. I cry for anyone who passes away especially in a tragic manner. Feel for his family...heart especially breaks for his mother. Carry him for 9 months and raised him all your life just for you to lose him prematurely.
The part where they spoke about copy cat suicides was just sad to hear. Suicide and death in general is triggering. I’m sure that not only me, but many other Shawols also tried to do something similar to Jjong.
Sadly, it's not just the government that needs to do something, it is South Korea as a whole. It is too competitive. You must wear designer brands, you must look pretty, even going to a grocery store you will see people in heels. So many people are in huge debts because they buy brand names they actually cannot afford. Even when applying to jobs, you must attach a photo of yourself in your resume. Even a small thing like coffee, a lot of my friends don't like coffee but they still buy starbucks because so people can see them holding that cup around. Then theres the stress from studying you go to school, then you go to a "school" after school. There is no leisure time unless your family is already rich. A lot of parents stress their kids out about school and a lot of moms pressure their kids at young age to get plastic surgery even. It is honestly a very tough life over there. It's not like how you see it is painted out to be in reality shows of kpop idols. I am so glad this video was made to shed some light.
can koreans just stop these victim mentality ?
like no one forcing you to buy expensive clothing
no one is forcing you to look pretty be ugly if you wish so
no one is forcing you to buy brand you cant afford, wear what you can afford
I dont drink that much coffee either but I go to Starbucks to take bagel
I drink instant coffee for the most part
school after school in my country many people hire tutors if they failing in school
I respect all of the koreans citizens personal opinions on this subject. Korea and it's people have become a society of being very materialistic, having a social hierarchical social class of people. The bottom line is no matter what social class you are, or what careers you are in, or rank in education. In korea having depression or any mental problems is look down on, and not given face. ( meaning attention ) This create an environment of Stress, Pressure, anxiety, because of feeling ashamed one's tend to hide. The Medical Society in Korea really need to give "serious" attention to this suicide issues and its causes. Or it will continue to infect the koreans people no matter what social class you are in No one is exempted from depression that may lead to death.
항상 좋은 인터뷰 감사합니다. 한국의 어두운 면들이지만 이런 것들일 수록 양지로 꺼내 얘기하는 것들이 해결의 시작이라고 생각해요. 제작하시는거 고생 많으실텐데, 항상 감사하고요! 힘내세요!
I was depressed for about a year when I had a car accident. I quit my job because I cannot perform my duty due to broken bone. I was alone at home most of the time. Nobody try to help me and make me cheer up because they think I need my own space. Thinking about dying (commit suicide or being murdered) and having nightmare are everyday things for me during that time. During that time I still hope for people help but no help offered. After slightly more than a year (18 months) of depression, I decided to get put of the house and cure myself by doing more exercise, do community service, meet up my family (siblings), learn new things and meet up new people. Other than that, I also learn and practise my religion to strengthen my spirit and soul. Now almost two years I have felt have successfully cure my depression and leading a healthy lifestyle with my family. Sometimes even people who are very close to us have no idea what we have been suffering unless we speak out. I'm glad I'm still here today and become a better person from who/what I were 2 years before. Nothing is too late and nothing is impossible. You should set yourself free from your own prison of mind. May we all have a healthy mind and body. Please love yourself and people around you. There is hope and cure for everything. 😀😊😃😉😄😉😊😆😄🤗💕💕💕💞💞
My thanks to Asian Boss, the interviewer and interviewees on this difficult topic. I have "crossed paths" with this before, and it mustn't be ignored or downplayed.
It occurred to me while watching this and reading your own comment that even the name "Asian Boss" reflects that hyper-competitiveness many of the interviewees spoke of, at least to my American mind. We are mostly prisoners of our own cultures to some extent, and it is the rare individual who choses to thoughtfully reform it, rather than merely rebel against it.
Thank you for this video. I had been waiting for it