Teenage suicide increases 50%

The number of teenage suicides increased by nearly 50 percent from a year earlier to exceed 200 last year, with many of the reasons unknown. 

A total of 202 elementary, middle and high school students committed suicide in 2009, Rep. Kim Choon-jin of the Democratic Party said Sunday in his analysis report to the parliamentary education committee. 

The figure is a 47 percent increase from 137 in the previous year. After slight fluctuations in recent years, the number of teenage suicide cases surpassed 200 for the first time. 

High school students accounted for the greatest number of teen suicides, with 140 of the total. Middle school students and elementary school students made up 28 percent and 3 percent, respectively.