Attitudes toward the Legalization of Euthanasia or Physician-Assisted Suicide in South Korea: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the general South Korean public attitudes toward the legalization of euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide (EAS) and examine the reasons underpinning these attitudes. From March–June 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of a representative national sample of 1000 South Koreans aged 19 years or older. Three in four participants (76.4%) expressed positive attitudes toward the legalization of EAS. Participants who agreed with this legalization reported “meaninglessness of the rest of life” and “right to a good death” as their main reasons. Participants who disagreed with the legalization of EAS reported “respect for life”, “violation of the right to self-determination”, “risk of abuse or overuse”, and “violation of human rights” as theirs. In the multivariate logistic regression analyses, participants with poor physical status (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 1.41, 95%; confidence interval [CI]: 1.02–1.93) or comorbidity (aOR: 1.84, 95%; CI: 1.19–2.83) showed positive attitudes toward the legalization of EAS. In summary, most of the general South Korean population regards the legalization of EAS positively, especially participants with poor physical status or comorbidity.

Attitude of the Lithuanian Public toward Medical Assistance in Dying: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Additionally, political orientation may have an impact on the public’s attitude [ 22 ]. A unique study from South Korea identified poor physical status and comorbidity as prognostic factors for acceptance of medical assistance in dying [ 26 ]. It is necessary to point out that the attitude can be influenced even by economic status [ 20 ] and education [ 27 ].…”

Beliefs and Attitudes toward Physician-assisted Suicide among Korean Adults

“…Lastly, people do not want life-sustaining treatment only for life prolongation, and other efforts including the expansion of hospice and palliative care should precede the legalization of PAS. Compared to the two recent opinion polls on PAS [6,7], this survey focused on systemic priorities. In a previous study, 80% of the public favored investment of insurance finances into the expansion of hospice and life-sustaining treatment and support of well-dying in a broader sense [7].…”

“…The results of two recent online polls [6,7] that many people favored PAS reflect the suffering of terminally ill patients and their families that the South Korean public is experiencing.…”

“…Recently, a partial amendment to the Act on Decisions on Life-Sustaining Treatment permitting PAS was proposed at the National Assembly of South Korea (representative proposal by Assembly Member Gyubaek Ahn, June 15, 2022), and the reason for proposing the amendment was explained by citing a public opinion poll according to which nearly 80% of adults favored euthanasia [5]. According to the study by Professor Young Ho Yun's research team at Seoul National University Hospital cited as the basis of law proposal [6], 76.3% of respondents among 1,000 Korean citizens aged 19 or older favored euthanasia and PAS, reflecting a near-doubling in 5 years compared to the proportion of people in favor in 2016. Moreover, a survey of 1,000 Korean adults by Hankook Research from July 1 to 4, after the law proposal [7] showed that 82% favored legalization of assisted death with dignity.…”

Abortion and euthanasia: Explanatory factors of an association in Thanatos. Analysis of the European Values Study

“…But even here, this connection may be less the result of age than the impact of the greater representation of religiosity among older people (Roesinger et al, 2018). Furthermore, authors such as Durán (2004) indicate that the greater degree of reflection on death among older people, or the comorbidity or deteriorating health that often accompanies old age, could suggest a greater acceptance of euthanasia (Yun et al, 2022).…”