Experts pointed to mounting academic pressure and increased screen time as key factors behind the growing number of sleep disorder cases
PHOTO: PEXELS
SEOUL – More South Koreans are suffering from sleep disorders, with the number of patients increasing by more than 20 per cent over the past four years, according to data showed on July 13
A total of 1,346,196 South Koreans were treated for sleep disorders in 2025, up about 24 per cent from 1,088,038 in 2021, according to the country’s Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service
Sleep disorders include chronic insomnia, which makes it difficult to fall or stay asleep for at least three months, as well as sleep apnoea
People in their 60s accounted for the largest share of patients at 321,219, followed by those in their 50s with 257,424 and those in their 70s with 244,138
What stood out was the rise among children and adolescents. The number of patients under 10 climbed 67.5 per cent to 3,726 over the same four-year period, while the number of teenage patients increased 32.6 per cent to 11,633
South Koreans are among the world’s most sleep-deprived people
A 2024 survey by the Korean Sleep Research Society, an academic organisation of sleep medicine experts including neurologists, found that the average South Korean slept just six hours and 58 minutes a night in 2025, 18 per cent below the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) average of eight hours and 22 minutes
Experts pointed to mounting academic pressure and increased screen time as key factors behind the growing number of sleep disorder cases
Speaking to a local news outlet, Kim Ji-hyun, a neurology professor at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital, said: “Many children and teenagers are staying up late because they can’t put down their phones after watching short-form videos or because they are busy with homework. Sleep problems that start at a young age can increase the risk of depression and cause behavioural problems later in life,”
The rise of round-the-clock services, including overnight deliveries and 24-hour convenience stores, is also contributing to the increase in sleep disorders
According to the Korea Labor Institute, about 2.17 million people worked night shifts between 10pm and 6am on weekdays in 2024, accounting for 14.2 per cent of the total workforce
The figure was down 401,000 from 2.57 million in 2019, but the number of weekend night workers increased by 359,000, from 817,000 in 2019 to 1.18 million in 2024
The Korean Society of Sleep Medicine said: “Insufficient sleep not only worsens depression and anxiety, but also increases the likelihood of developing serious illnesses such as dementia and cardiovascular disease. Policy efforts should focus on expanding access to sleep evaluation and treatment.” THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
South Korea
Sleep Disorders
Children and youth
