Korean

South Korea is notorious for its astronomically high rates of suicide. The trend carries over to members of the Korean American community, even those born stateside.

Common among Korea-born Korean Americans is the murder-suicide scenario, in which a father in his late 40s or 50s kills his wife and child(ren), then kills himself.

Elderly Korea-born Korean Americans above the age of 70, both men and women, are also known for suicides. This could be because of not wanting to be a burden to their children who are culturally obligated to provide their parents with very comfortable accommodations, which can be taxing financially and mentally.

Most of the cases below are only from L.A. County and do not include stories from Orange County, where many Koreans in Southern California live.

Los Angeles Medical Examiner Death Report

March 19, 2023

Korean

(L.A.) In Sook Choi, 85, Died in a Hospital

(L.A.) Chang Kim, 87, Died from Heart Disease

(L.A.) Miru Yi, 21, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Sang Yoon, 55, Died at a Residence

(L.A.) Stephen Kim, 50, Died in a Rehab / Detox Center

(L.A.) Jordan Park, 15, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Yiyoung Kim, 49, Killed by Her Husband

(L.A.) Alisha Chung, 8, Killed by Her Father

(L.A.) Joseph Chung, 51, Committed Suicide After Killing His Wife and Child

(L.A.) Nara Oh, 41, Died at a Residence

(L.A.) Raymond Kim, 32, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Young Park, 93, Died from Heart Disease

(L.A.) Kuk Jo, 81, Died by Drowning

(L.A.) Jinhyeok Yang, 38, Died at a Residence

(L.A.) Yong Kim, 49, Died at a Residence

(L.A.) Jonathan Kim, 72, Died in a Hospital

(L.A.) Miran Kim, 55, Died in a Parking Lot

(L.A.) Patricia Namkung, 33, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Andrew Yim, 40, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Daniel Rogerson, 55, Died from Heart Disease 🧁

(L.A.) Choon Jung Hyun, 75, Died in a Yard

(L.A.) John Kim, 50, Killed Himself on New Year’s Eve

(L.A.) Soek Park, 70, Committed Suicide

(L.A.) Jin Yi, 54, Died at a Residence

(L.A.) Steve Yi, 58, Shot Himself in the Head