Seoul Suicide Prevention Center to host remembrance ceremony on November 18

The Seoul Suicide Prevention Center will hold a remembrance ceremony at Seoul City Hall on November 18, featuring peer supporters who directly planned the event to support survivors ahead of International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day on November 21.

The Seoul Suicide Prevention Center will hold the "International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day Remembrance Ceremony: Remembering Together Today" on November 18 at the large conference room on the 3rd floor of the Seoul City Hall main building. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day is a designated day for those who have lost family members or acquaintances to suicide to share their grief and comfort one another; this year, the day falls on November 21.

Every year, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center have organized events on this day to support the social participation of suicide survivors and to expand solidarity among them. A notable feature of this year's ceremony is that peer supporters directly participated in the planning and operation, reflecting the opinions of the suicide survivors themselves. Since 2025, the name of the event has also been changed from a "commemoration ceremony" to a "remembrance ceremony" to embody the meaning of remembering the deceased and sharing the emotions of loss together.

The event will be divided into two parts. Part 1 is scheduled to include a memorial service, a choir performance, the sharing of experiences by suicide survivors, and an awards ceremony for contributions to survivor-related projects. An exhibition of small group activities by survivors, such as walking, writing, and Zentangle, will also be prepared. Part 2 will feature performances by suicide survivors and self-help groups for siblings, children, parents, and spouses. The Seoul Suicide Prevention Center also plans to screen interview videos of peer supporters to deliver messages of comfort and empathy based on the experiences of survivors. As social understanding surrounding suicide survivors remains insufficient, such occasions are meaningful in that they ensure mourning and recovery are not left solely to the individual.

“We have prepared a place where we can share the hearts that remember the deceased and commemorate them together,” said Choi Nam-jeong, director of the Seoul Suicide Prevention Center. “I hope today becomes a day where we feel we are together through the process of listening to each other's stories and sharing our hearts, and where we share small comforts and strength.” On-site participation is possible on the day of the ceremony, and advance registration will also be accepted.

Read the original (Korean)