One out of every three Koreans committing suicide is a senior citizen, with a growing number of the elderly here taking their own lives due mainly to financial difficulties and illness.

The Korean Association of Senior Welfare Centers said Friday that senior citizens aged over 61 accounted for 32.8 percent of those who committed suicide here in 2009, up sharply from 19.4 percent in 1999 and 10.3 percent in 1989.

The center said an increasing number of the elderly are killing themselves as more of them live on their own in line with rising life expectancy and the splintering nuclear family structure. Additionally, many suffer from economic strain as they did not save enough money for retirement and combined with a range of terminal illnesses, they are prompted to take own lives.

"We will launch a campaign at Tapgol Park, a favorite hangout among seniors, to increase the awareness about the seriousness of suicide among the elderly, as well as to offer them support so they can consider alternatives to ending their lives. We will hold an anti-suicide campaign and stage performances and other events to stress the importance of life," the center said.

According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, a total of 12,858 Koreans committed suicide in 2008, up 5.6 percent from the previous year. 

It translates to 26 individuals per every 100,000 here voluntarily ending their lives, the highest among the 31 OECD member countries.

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