Suicide was the No. 1 cause of death among Korean youths, outranking illnesses and traffic accidents, a civic group revealed Tuesday.

According to the Center for Freedom of Information and Transparent Society’s analysis of cause of death among those aged 24 years old or younger between 2007 and 2009, suicide topped the list followed by traffic accidents, illness and criminal acts.

“Most of those who committed suicide had problems related to academics, including which university they should attend. University students were tormented over getting a job after graduation. They have one thing in common: they felt they had no choice but to follow what adults directed them to do,” an official of the group said.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office Education, 101 elementary, middle and high school students had killed themselves over the past five years.

The main reason was family affairs, followed by extreme depression and agony over academic achievement.

(baejisook@heraldcorp.com)