A police inspector, Lee Mo (54), from the Hapcheon Police Station in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea, was found dead by suicide after his request for an extension of sick leave for work-related injuries was denied. He sustained serious injuries in a secondary traffic accident while handling a traffic accident scene during night duty in 2024 and suffered from sequelae of fractures and depression, making it difficult to return to normal duties. After his request for an extension of sick leave was denied twice, he was found dead, reportedly facing the decision to return to work. This incident highlights the difficulties faced by police officers who suffer physical and mental aftereffects from their duties and underscores the urgent need to strengthen suicide prevention and mental health support systems. The National Police Agency is working on a "Comprehensive Countermeasures for Suicide Prevention among Police Colleagues" to address these issues.
