Part of "Suicide is Painless," the theme song for the classic Korean War movie M*A*S*H, these words might well describe the Korea we live in today. Unfortunately, the "game of life" does not seem to have become any easier, a fact highlighted by the tragic events of the past month. The recent rash of celebrity suicides has once again drawn attention to a number of disturbing undercurrents in Korean society. These include the issue of suicide itself, but perhaps more ominously, the patent character assassination practiced by certain of those dubbed "netizens."

The discovery of Ahn Jae-hwan's body in September once again focused attention on the pressures that have become a feature of daily life for millions. Ahn's suicide must have been depressingly familiar to many in Korean society. An outwardly successful actor and businessman, he had evidently been laid low by a succession of poor business dealings resulting in a rumored debt of up to four billion won. Although the exact circumstances surrounding his death will probably never be known, one can only imagine his torment as he attempted to extricate himself from an increasingly untenable position.

The question of what, if anything, could have been done to help Ahn is not easily answered. Recent reports suggest that even Ahn's wife did not know the extent of his difficulties. Whether through an inability to come to terms with his problems or unwillingness to accept the humiliation they would have brought, Ahn clearly felt unable to unburden himself. Although it does seem that warning signs were apparent, most tellingly his sacking from his TV presenter job, no one appears to have heeded or at least acted on them. Perhaps this is a reflection of our increasingly self-centered existence. However, it is a far cry from noticing that someone has problems to equating this with someone being on the verge of suicide. Without more public awareness of the danger signs associated with suicide, it is hard to blame anyone for not preventing Ahn's fateful decision.

However tragic the death of Ahn may be, the suicide of Choi Jin-sil is altogether more sinister. Unlike Ahn, Choi was the victim of a most public and highly vindictive defamation of character. The malicious rumors to the effect that she had driven Ahn to his death in demanding repayment of a fictitious loan became fodder for the seemingly never-ending appetite certain "netizens" have for destroying anyone in the public eye. Neither Choi's character nor even her name was safe, with her being dubbed "Choi Hypocrisy," a dismal play on her given name "Jin-sil," meaning "truth."

The contents of Choi's last conversation graphically illustrate the effect on her state of mind. Some of her last words were "I want to die. No, I'll die.... You know what I have suffered for the last six years. You know what the truth is" (Korea Times, October 23). Here is a woman clearly at her wit's end. A divorced single mother with two young children, Choi had already been dealing with the prejudice that arouses. In fact, her decision to end her life seems partly to have been influenced by these considerations: "I'm sorry for my children, but it may be better to become a mom whose truth is revealed after death than a mom at whom people point fingers" (Korea Times, October 23). Most people have only a certain amount of inner strength, and it is quite clear that the lengthy and concerted campaign waged against Choi on the Internet sapped her last reserves.

The relative anonymity and lack of accountability that the Internet provides seems to embolden the denizens of cyberspace. Anyone can start a rumor, no matter how preposterous, and watch with a perverse thrill while the hits mount. Truth, corroboration, and basic human decency seem to have given way to an almost pathological obsession with sensationalism. As long as this persists, we are unlikely to have seen the last life shattered by rumor and innuendo.

Regrettably, with the latest figures indicating a continued rise in the number of suicides in Korea, it is not an issue that is going away. As a result, not only the government, but also society collectively has to take steps to provide better support mechanisms for those in need. Whether through enhanced support services, increased public awareness, or simply closer attention to those around us, those in danger must feel that they have somewhere to turn. At the same time, accountability in cyberspace must be made a priority. At the very least, posts should be accompanied by the writer's name and popular discussion boards moderated more effectively. Although limitations on free speech must be considered with extreme caution, let us just hope that those who abuse this right can be swiftly and decisively made accountable for their actions.