Seoul: The number of South Koreans experiencing anxiety and depression rose last year, while happiness perceptions varied among different income groups, a survey indicated on Thursday. The survey revealed that respondents reported a 4.1 out of 10 on anxiety last year, up from 3.4 in 2023. Similarly, feelings of depression increased from 2.8 points to 3.5 points during the same period, as per the findings of the Korea Institute of Public Administration.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the survey was conducted with 8,251 adults from August to September last year, focusing on social integration and public perception. While the general public's perception of happiness averaged 6.8 points, marking a 0.1 point rise from the prior year, the lowest income group, earning less than 1 million won monthly, reported a decrease in happiness to 6.0 points. Conversely, the highest income group, earning over 6 million won monthly, saw an increase in happiness from 6.8 to 7.0 points.
Satisfaction with political and economic conditions in the country improved by 0.7 points each from the previous year, reaching 5.1 and 5.3 points, respectively. In terms of political inclinations, 45.2 percent of respondents identified as moderate, despite a 1.5 percentage-point decline from the previous year, making it the largest group. Meanwhile, 30.2 percent identified as conservative, and 24.6 percent aligned with liberal views.