9 in 10 Koreans support ending life-prolonging treatment: study

By Kim Hyun-bin

More than nine out of ten Koreans think that they would opt to forgo life-prolonging treatment if they were terminally ill, a new study has found, highlighting shifting attitudes toward end-of-life care in the country.

According to a report released by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs on Sunday, 91.9 percent of respondents expressed they would choose to discontinue life-sustaining treatment if they were diagnosed with a terminal illness or were nearing the end of life, based on a survey conducted last April and May on 1,021 men and women. 8.1 percent stated they would prefer to continue such treatment.

Among those who responded in favor of halting life-prolonging measures, 68.3 percent cited the belief that "a life with no chance of recovery is meaningless," while 59.9 percent expressed a desire to "avoid being a burden to their families."

Conversely, among those who preferred to continue life-sustaining treatment, 53 percent said they feared "being left without medical intervention despite experiencing pain," while 49.4 percent cited "a fear of death."

The study also found that 82 percent of respondents supported the legalization of physician-assisted dying, which allows terminally ill patients undergoing extreme suffering to end their lives through self-administered medication or other means.

When asked to define a "good death," the most common response (20.1 percent) was "experiencing as little physical pain as possible." Other responses included "not having my family care for me for an extended period" (18.5 percent) and "ensuring my family does not face financial burdens due to my care" (17.5 percent).

The findings come amid ongoing discussions in Korea about the ethical and legal aspects of end-of-life care. In recent years, the country has taken steps to expand patients' rights regarding dying with dignity. A 2018 law allows terminally ill patients to refuse life-sustaining treatment under certain conditions, but physician-assisted dying remains illegal.

"Effective communication between patients, families and medical professionals is crucial for decision-making in the final stages of life," the report stated. "A cultural shift toward open discussions about end-of-life care is essential."