Review of Suicidal Electrocution in South Korea from 2008 Year to 2018 Year
10.7580/kjlm.2019.43.4.138
- Author:
Dae Yoil KIM
1
;
SangHan LEE
;
Dong Ja KIM
Author Information
1. Scientific Investigation Department, Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency, Andong, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Electrocution;
Suicide;
Electricity
- MeSH:
Autopsy;
Depression;
Electricity;
Female;
Humans;
Korea;
Male;
Occupations;
Schizophrenia;
Suicide
- From:Korean Journal of Legal Medicine
2019;43(4):138-143
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
The authors investigated the cases of electrocution suicides in South Korea from 2008 to 2018. Out of 151,419 suicides during this 11-year period, suicide by electrocution was extremely rare. Only nine victims were recorded in eight cases, with one case involving a married couple. The majority of the victims were men (89%), and only one case involved a woman (11%). The mean age of the victims was 55 years, and ranged from 38 to 74 years. In all cases, the suicides occurred in the home, and low-voltage electricity was used. Two of the nine victims (22%) had an occupation related with electrical knowledge. Mental illness, such as depression and schizophrenia, was found in two cases (22%). An autopsy was not performed in all cases.
