March 7, 2025
SEOUL – More South Koreans expressed feelings of anxiety and depression in 2024, with their happiness levels varying across income groups, a survey showed Thursday.
According to a survey conducted by the Korea Institute of Public Administration on 8,251 Korean nationals aged 19 and over, between August and September last year, the average anxiety level of respondents stood at 4.1 points out of 10 in 2024, up from 3.4 points the previous year. Their reported feelings of depression also increased, rising from 2.8 points in 2023 to 3.5 points.
Overall happiness levels increased by 0.1 point, reaching an average of 6.8 points in the same year. However, happiness declined with age, with the respondents in their 20s and 30s reporting 7 points, while those in their 40s and 50s averaging 6.8 points. Those aged 60 and above recorded 6.6 points.
Income was found to have a significant impact on people’s happiness and their perception of their own social status.
The lowest income group, earning less than 1 million won ($693) per month, saw their happiness levels decrease from 6.1 points the previous year to 6 points. In contrast, the figure for the highest income group with over 6 million won in monthly earnings increased from 6.8 points to 7.0 points last year.
A disparity in the perception of social status was also observed across income brackets.
While households with a monthly income of less than 1 million won who felt they had social status slightly increased to 4.9 points from 4.8 points the previous year, the same score for those with a monthly income of 6 million won or more rose from 5.7 points to 6.1 points.
Financial challenges lingered behind rising depression among some respondents.
The proportion of individuals who took out loans to pay for tuition grew from 2.5 percent to 4.7 percent, while those who relocated due to higher rent increased from 2.3 percent to 4.6 percent. The percentage of respondents who were unable to receive medical care because of hospital costs rose from 2.0 percent to 3.0 percent.
The survey, conducted months before the country plunged into political turmoil with President Yoon Suk Yeol’s Dec. 3 martial law declaration and impeachment that month, found that South Koreans’ level of national pride had reached its highest point ever.
The score for national pride stood at 3.1 out of a possible 4, the highest since the survey began in 2013.
Satisfaction rates for political and economic circumstances also climbed 0.7 points each from the previous year, recording 5.1 and 5.3 points, respectively.
Political activity also saw an uptick. The percentage of those who participated in petition drives rose from 10.8 percent to 12.2 percent, while those engaged in online expression of opinion through blogs and other platforms increased from 10.2 percent to 11.3 percent. Participation in protests or rallies also grew, rising from 8.1 percent to 10.9 percent.
Respondents who considered themselves moderates made up 45.2 percent of the whole, the largest group politically. Additionally, 30.2 percent identified as conservatives, while 24.6 percent classified themselves as progressives.