Starting in October, even if calls are restricted due to non-payment of communication bills caused by financial difficulties or other reasons, people will be able to use the suicide prevention counseling hotline 109.
On the 8th, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission announced that they are jointly working to designate the suicide prevention counseling hotline '109' (hereinafter referred to as 109) as an emergency communication phone. This move aims to strengthen access to communications so that calls can be connected regardless of whether the phone is suspended due to financial issues or other reasons during a suicide crisis situation.
This improvement began in response to public concerns received via Cheong Wa Dae's social networking service (SNS) regarding difficulties in using 109 when outgoing calls were suspended due to financial hardships.
Currently, 109 is a toll-free call operated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year under the "Act on the Prevention of Suicide and Promotion of Life-Respecting Culture," where no charges are incurred by the caller. However, unlike 112 and 119, it has not been designated as an emergency communication phone, which created limitations in its use when outgoing calls were restricted due to non-payment of communication bills or other reasons.
Accordingly, the Ministry of Science and ICT, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission reviewed the current system related to 109 usage based on public feedback received through Cheong Wa Dae's SNS and discussed improvement measures with relevant ministries to ensure counseling remains possible even when calls are restricted.
The Ministry of Science and ICT determined that 109 meets the requirement for emergency communication phones, which is "protection of national safety," and immediately began institutional improvements.
Considering that it typically takes about three months to revise regulations, the ministry proactively promoted necessary system development through prior consultations with telecommunications companies and other stakeholders. As a result, 109 will be applied on a provisional basis starting October 1, before the regulation revision is completed. The regulation revision process will also be expedited as much as possible, including shortening the public comment period from the existing 20 days to 10 days. Terminal manufacturers are also expected to voluntarily cooperate by adding 109 to the list of emergency phones for suspended devices, enabling direct connection to 109 even on locked screens.
Nam Seok, Director of Telecommunications Policy at the Ministry of Science and ICT, stated, "109 is a phone that people call in their most desperate moments, meeting the criteria for an emergency communication phone," and added, "We will quickly build a communication safety net so that anyone can access 109 anytime."
Meanwhile, emergency communication phones are designated by the Ministry of Science and ICT based on requests from government ministries operating special numbers to maintain social order and ensure human safety under the "Telecommunications Business Act."
Specifically, there are eight numbers in total: National Security Reporting/Consultation (111), Crime Reporting (112), Spy Reporting (113), School Violence Reporting/Consultation (117), Cyber Terrorism Reporting/Consultation (118), Fire and Distress Reporting (119), Maritime Accident and Crime Reporting (122), and Smuggling Reporting (125). Among these, School Violence Reporting/Consultation (117) was designated in 2013 at the request of the National Police Agency.
in TECH
