- MSIT, MOHW, and ACRC worked together after public input was received through Cheong Wa Dae social media channels.

- Even when outgoing calls are restricted, the suicide prevention hotline will still be available.

- Even before the official notice revision, the change will be applied starting in October through consultations with telecommunications companies and phone device manufacturers.

【Relevant National Task】

14. A government that innovates and communicates with the people

□ Going forward, the 109 Suicide Prevention Hotline will remain accessible even when outgoing calls are restricted because of unpaid phone bills due to financial hardship.

□ The Ministry of Science and ICT (MSIT, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister: Bae Kyung-hoon), the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW, Minister: Jeong Eun-kyeong), and the Anti-Corruption & Civil Rights Commission (ACRC, Chairperson: Jung Il-yeon) have agreed to designate the 109 Suicide Prevention Hotline (“109”) as an emergency number. This will ensure that individuals in a suicide crisis can reach help even when their mobile service has been suspended, improving access to telecommunications services.

This move was prompted by public feedback submitted through Cheong Wa Dae’s social media channels, where citizens reported being unable to call 109 after their mobile services were suspended due to financial hardship.

□ Operating 24/7 under the “Act on the Prevention of Suicide and the Creation of a Culture of Respect for Life,” 109 is currently a toll-free service for which the recipient bears the cost. Unlike 112 or 119, however, it was not designated as an emergency number, so it could not be dialed when outgoing calls were restricted due to unpaid bills.

Meanwhile, under the “Telecommunications Business Act,” MSIT designates emergency numbers* taking into account requests from government agencies that operate special numbers (such as the Korean National Police Agency for 112 and the National Fire Agency for 119) to maintain social order and protect lives. Accordingly, telecommunications companies must keep these emergency numbers accessible even when a subscriber’s outgoing calls are blocked due to outstanding payments.

* In Korea, there are eight emergency numbers: National Security Report & Consultation (111), Police (112), Spy Report (113), School Violence Report & Consultation (117), Cyber Terror Report & Consultation (118), Fire & Rescue (119), Maritime Accident & Crime Report (122), and Smuggling Report (125). Of these, the School Violence Report & Consultation (117) number was designated as an emergency number in 2013 upon request of the Korean National Police Agency.

□ After reviewing the current system regarding the use of 109 based on the citizens’ feedback received through Cheong Wa Dae’s social media channels, MSIT, MOHW, and ACRC discussed improvement measures with other related agencies to enable people to still get counselling services even when their phone service is restricted.

MSIT determined that 109 meets the “protecting public safety” requirement for designation as an emergency number, and immediately began revising the relevant official notice. In particular, considering that it normally takes about three months to revise the official notice, the ministry began developing the necessary systems in advance after consulting with telecommunications carriers, so that the change can take effect on October 1, even before the revision to the official notice is finalized. The ministry also plans to expedite the notice revision process as fast as possible, including by shortening the advance public notice period from the current 20 days to 10 days. Furthermore, mobile device manufacturers will voluntarily support the effort by adding 109 to the list of emergency numbers on mobile phones, allowing users to connect directly to 109 from the lock screen.

In addition, as the ministry responsible for operating 109, MOHW plans to provide the necessary support for operating it as an emergency number.

□ These measures are expected to eliminate a blind spot in access to the suicide prevention hotline, ensuring that people whose communication services are restricted due to financial hardship can reach out to 109 at the moment they need crisis counseling.

□ Nam Seok, Director General of the Telecommunications Policy Bureau at MSIT, said “As 109 is the number people turn to in their most desperate moments, it meets the criteria for an emergency number.” He also added, “Through swift progress on the notice revision and active cooperation with the telecommunications industry, we will rapidly establish a telecommunications safety net that ensures anyone can access 109 at any time.”

□ Lee Sun-young, Director General of the Bureau of Mental Health Policy at MOHW, stated, “With its designation as an emergency number, 109 can help raise awareness of the hotline as an emergency suicide prevention service and strengthen its role as a safety net,” adding, “This will provide practical help to citizens facing a suicide crisis.”

□ Oh Jeong-taek, Director General of the Institutional Improvement Bureau at ACRC, emphasized, “Suicide prevention counseling must be available at the very moment when help is needed most.” He added, “This improvement plan is significant because related ministries worked together to swiftly prepare a solution based on public feedback submitted through Cheong Wa Dae.”

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division (Phone: +82-44-202-4034, E-mail: msitmedia@korea.kr) of the Ministry of Science and ICT.

Please refer to the attached PDF.