Dignified Death Movement Expands in South Korea with Over 3 Million Registrations
SEOUL, Aug. 11 (Korea Bizwire) — More than 3 million South Koreans have now officially pledged to forego life-sustaining treatment in favor of a dignified death, reflecting a growing acceptance of end-of-life decisions under the nation’s “Right to Die” law. As of August 9, 2023, a total of 3,003,177 people have registered their intention to refuse life-prolonging medical interventions.
The legal framework, known as the End-of-Life Care Decision Act, was introduced in 2018 to provide individuals with the right to decide on their care in the event of terminal illness. Seven and a half years after its implementation, nearly 7% of South Korea’s adult population has embraced the option, with women making up a significantly larger proportion of registrants.
Participation has surged since the law’s inception, with a gradual increase in registrations from 80,000 in 2018 to 1 million by 2021 and 2 million by 2023. The number reached 3 million in just under two years, illustrating widespread public support for the policy.
The majority of registrants are older individuals, with 21% of those aged 65 and over, and a notable 24.9% of elderly women, indicating a strong desire for autonomy in end-of-life decisions. Among all registrants, 44% have already had their wishes fulfilled, opting to discontinue life-sustaining treatment when facing terminal conditions.
Public opinion polls show widespread backing for this approach. A survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that 91.9% of adults would choose to stop life-sustaining treatment if diagnosed as terminal. Additionally, 82% supported the legalization of assisted euthanasia.
Debate is intensifying over expanding the scope of end-of-life care decisions, with calls to extend the eligibility for life-sustaining treatment cessation to patients expected to die within months, not just those nearing death. Experts argue that this would improve quality of life for terminal patients and their families.
In line with this, research conducted by Yonsei University’s Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation revealed that 81.5% of medical associations support advancing the timing for withdrawing life-sustaining treatments. Legislative amendments to broaden these provisions are currently under consideration in the National Assembly.
Health Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong has expressed her support for the expansion, emphasizing the importance of ensuring patients’ autonomy and the need for a broader societal discussion on the matter.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
