There was an anti-suicide warning on the Han River Bridge. Why are people erasing it now?

On July 30, the Seoul City Government in South Korea stated that the anti-suicide slogan for the Han River Bridge written by the late Mayor Park Won-soon during his lifetime had been erased. In 2013, Park Won-soon wrote an inscription on the railing of the Han River Bridge: Let us calm down and start over again. Luck is just taking a nap for a moment. ?On July 10, Park Yuanchun’s body was found, and the police ruled out the suspicion of homicide. The Seoul Metropolitan Government stated that the author of the suicide prevention slogan ultimately committed suicide, and it is inappropriate to continue to leave the slogan in such circumstances. ?

According to South Korea's "Joongang Daily" report, on July 30, relevant sources from the Seoul City Government stated that the Seoul City Government received complaints from citizens on the 27th that former Mayor Park Won-soon committed suicide and died on the Han River. The "anti-suicide notice" left on the railing of the bridge was so uncomfortable that the Seoul Metropolitan Government erased Mayor Park Won-soon's signature from the notice on the same day. Park Won-soon wrote on the railing of the Han River Bridge in 2013: "Let's calm down and start over again, luck is just a nap for a moment." Vocalist Cho Soo-mi, actor Ha Jung-woo, singer Lee Hyori, gymnast Son Yeon-jae and other Korean celebrities have written suicide prevention messages on the railings of the Han River Bridge. ?

Data disclosed by Seoul City shows that among the bridges across the Han River, the Mapo Bridge has the highest number of suicides by jumping into the river. However, in 2012, when suicide prevention reminders were written, only 15 people committed suicide here. The number of people jumping into the river increased to 93 in 2013 and 184 in 2014. After the height of the railings was raised from 1.5 meters to 2.5 meters in 2016, the number of people jumping into the river gradually decreased from 211 that year, to 163 in 2017, and to 148 in 2018. ?

Relevant sources from the Seoul City Government said that the person who wrote the anti-suicide reminder eventually chose to commit suicide. In this case, the reminder should not be left in place. ?Some people pointed out that the actual effectiveness of suicide prevention reminders was not great, and they were originally planned to be gradually eliminated?

Relevant sources from the Seoul City Government said, “We believe that heightening the bridge railings is more effective in preventing suicide than writing anti-suicide warnings, so we have decided to erase the warnings on the Han River Bridge and raise the railings within this year. ?.