The tragic case from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, in which three minor sisters aged 12, 14 and 16 died by suicide after jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment, has reopened an uncomfortable but necessary conversation around adolescent mental health, online influence, and the repeated tendency to associate certain harmful digital trends with South Korea. Central to this discussion is a diary allegedly left behind by the girls, which sheds light on their inner world and the influences they were drawn to.
According to reports, the diary entries expressed deep admiration for Korean culture. The sisters wrote about their fondness for K-pop, Korean films, music, short videos, television shows and web series. Early speculation suggested the involvement of a task-based online game described as a “Korean love game,” but police investigations later ruled out the presence of any such game. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patil stated that while the girls were influenced by Korean culture, there was no evidence of their participation in a specific online challenge. He also confirmed that the family had temporarily restricted the children’s access to mobile phones prior to the incident.
What emerges from this case is not a simple cause-and-effect explanation, but a complex intersection of teenage vulnerability, emotional isolation, and cultural fascination. It highlights how intense admiration for a distant culture, when combined with personal distress and developmental sensitivity, can sometimes turn into unhealthy fixation. Importantly, experts emphasise that self-harm is rarely triggered by a single factor; it is usually the result of multiple emotional, psychological and social pressures converging at once.
Globally, self-harm challenges and dangerous online trends have appeared in many societies. However, some of these phenomena have historically gained visibility in South Korea. For instance, the infamous Blue Whale Challenge — though believed to have originated in Russia — gained particular traction in South Korea. Similarly, the Eraser Challenge, which involved repeatedly rubbing an eraser against the skin to test pain tolerance, became popular there during the early 2010s. While these trends were also seen in countries like the United States and the United Kingdom, South Korea often appeared prominently in discussions around their spread.
This raises the question of why such harmful trends sometimes find fertile ground in South Korea. The answer lies less in cultural endorsement and more in the broader social environment. South Korea, despite being a highly developed OECD nation, has one of the highest suicide rates among developed countries. This has long been linked to systemic stress factors embedded in daily life.
One of the most significant contributors is the education system. South Korean students endure extraordinarily intense academic pressure, with long school hours followed by additional study at private cram schools known as hagwons. Preparation for the College Scholastic Ability Test (Suneung), a single nine-hour exam that largely determines university placement, dominates adolescent life. Studies indicate that a vast majority of students attend hagwons, often studying late into the night and even on weekends, with limited sleep and little time for emotional recovery.
Research published in international health journals has shown that this environment contributes to high levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation among middle- and high-school students. At the same time, social stigma around mental health discourages open discussion or treatment, leaving many young people to cope in isolation.
Cultural factors also play a role. South Korean society is deeply influenced by Confucian values that prioritise discipline, obedience, academic success, family honour and collective responsibility over individual emotional expression. In a highly competitive and patriarchal social structure, young people — particularly women — often face intense expectations related to achievement, appearance, and conformity. This pressure continues into adulthood, contributing to widespread stress across age groups.
Even within the glamorous world of K-pop, the pressure is extreme. Idols undergo years of rigorous training under strict contracts that regulate their schedules, diets, personal relationships and public behaviour. Long working hours, constant scrutiny, and limited personal freedom are common. This demonstrates that stress in South Korea is not confined to ordinary citizens but extends across social strata.
Another crucial factor is digital saturation. South Korea has some of the fastest internet speeds in the world and near-universal smartphone ownership. Surveys show that a significant proportion of adolescents are considered overly dependent on their phones. For stressed young minds, constant access to social media, online communities and algorithm-driven content can amplify feelings of loneliness, comparison and emotional distress. While most online content is harmless, harmful ideas can spread rapidly and latch onto vulnerable individuals.
It is important to clarify that Korean culture itself does not promote self-harm, toxic fandoms or dangerous challenges. On the contrary, the vast majority of Korean media, games and entertainment focus on storytelling, creativity, romance and emotional connection. Many popular Korean games, such as story-based romance or “otome” games, provide fictional companionship and escapism rather than risk-taking or harm.
The real issue lies in what happens when emotionally vulnerable adolescents, regardless of country, are exposed to intense online influence without adequate mental health support or guidance. India’s growing fascination with Korean culture among Gen Z and young millennials explains how ideas, aesthetics and online narratives travel across borders. In rare cases, when combined with isolation, restriction, or psychological distress, this fascination can become maladaptive.
The Ghaziabad case ultimately underscores the urgent need for stronger mental health awareness, parental communication, and responsible digital engagement. Rather than blaming any one culture, it calls for a deeper understanding of how global online trends interact with local vulnerabilities — and how early emotional support can make the difference between admiration and harm.
