More and more South Koreans suffer from sleep deprivation and many resort to sleeping pills
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JiEun began to have insomnia when her workday became so stressful that she just couldn’t relax.
On average, she worked from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. But the 29yearold, who works in public relations, was sometimes in the office until 3am. His boss called in the middle of the night and asked that something be done at the same time.
“I almost forgot how to relax,” she explains.
And your case is not unique. South Korea is one of the countries with the highest sleep deprivation rates in the world, with a huge impact on the population.
Jihyeon Lee, a sleep psychiatrist, says it’s common for patients to take up to 20 sleeping pills a day at the Dream Sleep Clinic in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
“It usually takes a while to fall asleep, but Koreans want to sleep quickly, so they take medicine,” she says.
Addiction to sleeping pills has become a national epidemic. There are no official statistics, but it is estimated that this addiction affects 100,000 Koreans.
Unable to sleep, many resort to alcohol mixed with medication with potentially dangerous consequences.
Jihyeon Lee is a psychiatrist specializing in sleep disorders.
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“People become sleepwalkers. They go to the fridge, they eat things unconsciously, even raw food,” says Lee. “There have been cases of car accidents in Seoul caused by sleepwalking patients.”
Lee is used to hosting chronic insomniacs who suffer from what is known as hyperarousal (a condition that causes activation of the brain and prevents us from getting a good night’s sleep). Some of his patients tell him they haven’t slept more than a few hours a night in decades.
“They cry, but they still have a glimmer of hope (when they come to the surgery). It’s a very sad situation,” says the psychologist.
Overwork, stress and sleep deprivation
South Korea is one of the countries with the greatest sleep deprivation in the world. It also has the highest suicide rate among developed countries, the highest consumption of liquor per capita, and the highest number of people taking antidepressants.
There are historical reasons that explain these statistics.
Sleep deprivation in South Korea tops global statistics
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In just a few decades, the country has gone from being one of the poorest in the world to one of the most technologically advanced.
In addition, through her growing influence in pop culture, she possesses considerable “soft power” (a term used in international relations to describe the ability to influence actions or interests through cultural and ideological means).
Nations with similar track records like Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates might be exploiting their natural resources, but Korea doesn’t have that hidden wealth. The country was transformed by the sheer dedication of a population fueled by a collective nationalism that drove them to work harder and faster.
The result is that South Koreans are overworked, stressed and lack sleep.
An entire industry has now sprung up around people who can’t sleep and that sleep industry was valued at $2.5 billion in 2019.
Collective nationalism drives many South Koreans to work long hours and sleep very little.
Photo: Chung SungJun/Getty Images/BBC News Brazil
growing industry
In the capital Seoul, department stores are dedicated to sleep products, from the perfect duvet to the ideal pillow, while pharmacies stock shelves full of herbal medicines.
And there are technological approaches against insomnia. About two years ago, Daniel Tudor launched a meditation app Kokkiri that focused on helping stressedout young Koreans fall asleep.
Although South Korea is historically a Buddhist country, young people think meditation is a pastime for the elderly, which an office worker in Seoul could not do.
Daniel says he had to reimport and repackage meditation as a Western idea so that young Koreans would find it attractive.
More traditional institutions are also stepping in.
Hyerang Sunim is a Buddhist monk who helps organize retreats at a temple outside of Seoul where sleepdeprived people can meditate and absorb Buddhist teachings.
Buddhist temples, which often host sleep retreats, have come under fire for attacking people with insomnia.
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In the past, these types of getaways were reserved for retirees seeking teaching and prayer. Today, the participants tend to be younger Koreans of working age.
But these same Buddhist temples have also been criticized for benefiting from these types of retreats.
“Of course there are concerns. But I think the pros outweigh the cons,” argues Hyerang Sunim.
“Traditionally, it was rare for young people to come seeking Buddhist teachings. And they have a lot to do with the temple now.”
Blaming people for lack of sleep could have negative consequences, some experts say
Photo: Nam Hun SUNG/Getty Images/BBC News Brazil
“Fundamental Changes”
Lee Hyeri, who attended one of these Buddhist retreats when the pressure at work became unbearable, says she learned to take responsibility for her stress.
“Everything starts with me; All my problems start with me. I learned that here,” explains the young woman.
However, it can be problematic to define the resolution of stress and sleep deprivation as something that needs to be addressed at an individual level.
Those who believe the problem is caused by an irrational work culture and social pressures have criticized this individualistic approach, saying it amounts to blaming the victims.
These critics say that meditation or relaxation is a patchwork quilt and that real solutions can only come from fundamental changes in society.
JiEun, the character who opens this story, ended up being so sleep deprived and stressed out that she decided to quit her job.
She now works much more sensibly as a freelancer and is able to work from home due to the pandemic. She also sought professional help at Lee’s sleep clinic to manage her insomnia.
“What’s the point of working so hard now that we’re at the top as a country?” says Ji Eun. “We should be able to relax.”