Is Korea Really the 'Most Depressed' Country in the World? | Street Interview

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Happiness is subjective. In our modern world, we often believe that comparison leads to growth, but in reality, it can steal our joy.

Something I noticed living in Korea is there's very little color. Almost everyone wears muted colors or white/black. The apartment forests are nearly all white. Cars are almost all black/white/gray. I felt depressed many times there and lack of color was a contributing factor IMO......except the food! Plenty of color there!

very few would admit they're unhappy on cam

I'm a foreigner living in Korea. Recently, I had a bad mental health episode. I went to my psychiatrist and told him I wanted to (unalive) and I hated myself. He laughed and said "so what? Are you from a third world village? Who doesn't feel like that? Just don't do k--- yourself. Take your meds and go. You're fine. You're normal." And I was so frustrated by the sentiment because it felt like he wasn't listening to me when I really needed the help. But it made me wonder if I'm also surrounded by people in Korea who just feel the same.

I appreciate hearing these thoughtful, nuanced answers.

I was lucky that when I was in elementary school, I had a teacher who told us that there is no point comparing yourself with others and from that point on, I simply didn’t compare myself with others again (although sometimes it happens subconsciously and then I would consciously tell myself to not do that). But I don’t think it may be that easy for everyone to do the same. I recently read I want to die but I want to eat Tteokbokki and the writer talked about how she couldn’t help but compare herself with others, despite knowing that she shouldn’t, and that’s one of the reasons why she was depressed. While it’s good that Koreans are becoming more aware of what causes their unhappiness and how to avoid it, I think it’s important to be able to seek professional help when you still find yourself struggling.

Happiness is an emotion. Depression is not about whether you're happy or not because you cannot sustain any emotion for long periods of time. The lady with the two sons who provide for her, she's a prime example of a content person. I just don't think we should equate an emotion with a mental illness. One, that can be misinterpreted whenever someone says they aren't happy. Two, being constantly happy is not the norm.

Life is so short ...so love yourself and be really happy with or without material things.

Working like a slave isn’t a very happy life.

It's great to see how other parts of the world think.

Korea is all about saving face. Even if they were dying of depression, they would never admit that to you, a stranger with a camera, when they know it will be shown on the internet.

10:40 I have been living in Japan, and I am content in my small two room apartment. Whenever I visit family in the USA and talk to people in the States, they always talk about buying a huge house... like that is the dream.... I couldn't imagine the stress of furnishing and keeping a whole house and yard. Even the small house that my relatives have... they spend so much money and effort on it... For me... having a house isn't happiness but I think it really different for each person.

The emphasis on competition and the pressure to conform can definitely take a toll on mental health. It's time for some real changes and open conversations. 💬

Just want to say- Never give up! You were born for a reason and no matter what, we have to push beyond our limits and honor those who have come before. Sadness and depression are temporary. I hope everyone is living to the fullest.

Seoul's bus game is on point

If mental health professionals are accessible in your country, please check in. One can “get used to” depression to the point they have it so long they don’t know how it is to feel different. One just mistaken sums it to sleep deprivation and everyday fatigue of commuting. Personally faced that and it took being put on a stretcher in front of coworkers to see that.

00:03:11 The same question if it was asked in a Buddhist country like Thailand the answer would be "totally different". Despite of history of Buddhism in Korea, surprisingly, Korean people shows almost no sign of Buddhist mentality. The Korean society is pretty much a Confucian society where everyone is occupied with climbing the social ladder. In Buddhist society, people see the social ladder as the thing that one can choose to either climb to the top, stop at some level that person feels comfortable or happy, or even doesn't climb it at all. All these choices will not be judged by other people. But in Confucian society, people tend to think only the people on the top of the ladder can be happy, where the rest are considered as losers.

Unfortunately we live in a world where most people are depressed because they think they don't have enough money and the only cure is more money. Social media amplifies this. Be happy with what material possessions you have. Work harder to get more. But most importantly work harder on relationships and start a family. You'll realise that there is more to life than being depressed about money

So sad... There's so much repression and pressure to achieve the unattainable in SK. On top of that, mental health is seen as a joke. I genuinely feel bad for the unhappy Koreans that feel stuck. How can anyone be happy under those conditions?