Cancer claimed the most lives in Korea last year, data shows
The biggest cause of death for Koreans last year was cancer, government data showed, particularly lung cancer for men.An annual report released by Statistics Korea showed 28.6 percent of 267,692 Koreans, or 76,611 people, passed away in 2014 due to cancers.
Lung cancer accounted for the biggest ratio for both men and women. Among a representative population of 100,000, 50.4 men died of the illness, compared to 18.3 women.
Heart diseases and brain diseases ranked second and the third causes, respectively. Suicide was the fourth-biggest factor.
Notable was the emergence of pneumonia, which ranked fifth in 2014 from 10th in 2004. Officials said the increase of fatalities related to the common disease in the elderly is a sign Korea is becoming an aging society.
Suicide was the most common cause of death among young Koreans in their 20s and 30s.
The total number of deaths in 2014 rose 0.5 percent from 2013, an average of 733 people every day.
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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