It's no longer surprising to hear that South Korea has the highest suicide rate among OECD countries.

The suicide rate per 100,000 people is double the average, which is truly... staggering.

Moreover, the suicide rate for men is an astonishing four times higher than that of women.

When you think about it, both in Korea and the U.S., the burdens and struggles that men carry in life are strikingly similar.

On the surface, they pretend to be fine and strong, but many men are suffering silently inside.

"What does a man have to complain about..."

What did we hear growing up? "Men shouldn't cry," "You have to take care of your family," "Don't show weakness."

We grew up hearing these messages. So even when it's tough or exhausting, they can't express their feelings to anyone.

Even when their hearts hit a limit, they don't think to seek help from a hospital or counseling center; they see enduring it alone as a virtue.

Here in the U.S., the rate of men seeking mental health counseling is definitely lower than that of women, leading to many cases ending in extreme choices.

The disease of 'loneliness' becomes more severe as one ages.

It's interesting how, as we get older, people around us start to disappear one by one.

Busy with work and life, going back and forth between home and the office like a pendulum, one day you realize you have no friends left to confide in.

Even living here in New Jersey, I know a few people in Fort Lee and Palisades Park, but I have no one to call for a drink on the weekend.

Then, if you face a storm like retirement or divorce, it feels like you fall off a social cliff.

Nowadays, in the U.S., this is referred to as the 'Loneliness Epidemic,' treated as a serious social issue.

The longer you spend alone, the more depression and despair silently tighten their grip.

Always surrounded by money, money, money

Living in Korea is like a constant battle. With skyrocketing housing prices, suffocating education costs, and endless competition, men are gasping for air.

But do you think the U.S. is some kind of paradise? Not at all. You have to pay off your mortgage, cover your kids' tuition, and the medical costs here are brutal.

If you catch a cold, the bills can make you feel even worse. Plus, you have to think about your retirement, so can you sleep at night?

Especially for Korean men like me living in a foreign country, there's the added burden of language barriers and cultural differences.

When something unfair happens at work, you can't express it clearly in English, and the stress of swallowing it down is something only those who have experienced it understand.

The vicious cycle of 'anger' and 'alcohol'

What do men often say? "I'm fine," "It's nothing." But inside, they are already crumbling.

Men's depression often doesn't manifest in tears like it does for women.

They spend sleepless nights, sleep all weekend like the dead, or bury themselves in work and alcohol, repeating this cycle.

Chronic fatigue, lack of concentration, and a loss of motivation... these are all urgent signals from the heart.

It's an SOS. It's not something to brush off as "I guess it's just getting older."

"Just like you go to the doctor when your body hurts, reach out when your heart hurts"

There's one cultural aspect I've envied while living in the U.S. Here, fewer people feel ashamed to seek psychiatric counseling and therapy.

Even tie-wearing office workers, big businessmen, and even tough soldiers often say, "I've been feeling a bit down lately, so I'm going to therapy" in a casual manner.

It's a place where going to a specialist when your heart is hurt is as normal as going to a doctor when you catch a cold.

Our mindset needs to change. Working tirelessly for your family is not the only responsibility.

Taking care of your mental health is the true responsibility of a man and a person.

Calling an old friend first on the weekend and saying, "Hey, let's grab a drink." Starting to walk at the local track.

And honestly telling your wife, "Honey, I've been feeling really exhausted and overwhelmed lately."

This is not a sign of weakness. It's the healthiest choice in the world that only truly courageous people can make.

Do you have a friend who suddenly stopped contacting you, or a colleague who says, "I don't find joy in life anymore," or "I want to give it all up"?

Don't just brush it off. A warm call asking, "Hey, is everything okay? Let's meet up" could be the lifeline for a man standing on the edge.

A truly strong man is not someone who carries all the burdens alone and suffers in silence.

The real strong person is the one who can say, "I'm struggling right now, so please help me."

Mental health issues are not a sign of weakness; they are health problems that can arise just like a cold.

On the day our society accepts this obvious truth without hesitation, perhaps the lonely and tragic deaths will decrease a little.