SEOUL, September 01 (AJP) - The number of South Korean firefighters struggling with mental health issues has surged in recent years, driven by exposure to traumatic incidents such as the 2022 Itaewon stampede accident, while access to professional counseling for first responders remains critically low.
According to data submitted by Democratic Party lawmaker Han Byung-do, counseling sessions provided through the National Fire Agency's "visiting counseling program" rose to 79,453 cases in 2024, up 65 percent from 48,026 cases in 2020. The agency's mental health survey of 61,087 firefighters in 2024 found that 7.2 percent (4,375) suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), 6.5 percent (3,937) report symptoms of depression, and 5.2 percent (3,141) are considered at risk of suicide.
The mental health toll drew renewed attention after the 2022 Itaewon crowd crush, which killed 159 people during Halloween festivities in Seoul's Itaewon. Several first responders involved in the rescue operations later reported lasting trauma, and at least two rescuers -- officers in their 30s and 40s, diagnosed with depression -- have taken their own lives since the accident. The one officer repeatedly received professional counselling, while the other shared his traumatic experience with his colleagues and later applied for work-related PTSD care.
Despite the mounting demand, the agency currently employs only 128 counselors for 268 fire stations nationwide, leaving many units without dedicated staff. As of late 2023, only 102 counselors were in place, with each handling an average of 779 cases annually.
Police officers face similar struggles. From 2020 to 2022, the number treated for depression rose 67 percent, while PTSD treatments increased nearly 50 percent, according to the National Police Agency and the National Health Insurance Service. National Assembly records show that between 2018 and 2022, at least 105 officers took their own lives, with mental health issues cited as the cause in 44 cases.
These figures highlight the heavy psychological toll of frontline duties and have fueled criticism of insufficient state support. Han said, "It is clear neglect that the state cannot properly safeguard even the mental health of its firefighters," pledging to push for at least one counselor at every fire station.
reporter
Cheon Soram
cheons@ajupress.com
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