Despite a 56% increase in the number of South Korean citizens who died abroad over the past four years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs budget has remained virtually frozen. From 2021 to 2024, natural deaths were the most common cause, though cases of suicide and murder also occurred. In Japan, natural deaths and suicides were frequent, while deaths from violence and crime continue in Southeast Asia. Lawmaker Kang Seon-woo argued that current 'lip service' protection policies cannot guarantee citizens' lives and demanded comprehensive safety measures including budget expansion and increased personnel.
