Introducing the TELUS Mental Health Index: Nearly half of employees in South Korea experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety, impacting workplace productivity
SEOUL, South Korea, June 17, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, TELUS Health, a globally-recognized leader in workplace wellbeing, introduced its TELUS Mental Health Index ("the Index") to South Korea. Released quarterly, the Index measures and tracks employee mental health, wellbeing and productivity trends, providing organizations and policymakers with actionable insights to help build more resilient workforces. This quarter's report reveals that nearly half of employees in South Korea are experiencing feelings of depression and anxiety. The findings also show concerning trends: more than one in three workers have no emergency savings, women's mental health scores trail behind the average, and more than two in five employees report feelings of isolation.
In 2024, TELUS Health expanded its Asia-Pacific presence through EZNwellness, South Korea's leading employee assistance program provider. EZNwellness enables deep insights into the working landscape in South Korea and strengthens TELUS Health's ability to deliver comprehensive wellbeing services and mental health support that resonates for employees and drives positive impacts for organizations.
"The Index allows for comparisons with other developed nations, providing a clearer perspective on the mental health landscape among South Korean employees. The mental health challenges faced by South Korean workers have been widely reported and by tracking these trends over time, we gain valuable insights into how it is evolving," said Minjae Kang, CEO of EZNwellness, a TELUS Health Company. "The insights provide crucial guidance for businesses and policymakers striving to create healthier workplaces, and we're already seeing the value of coming together with TELUS Health, boosting our capacity to deliver tailored wellbeing research and solutions."
The report reveals a concerning picture of mental health challenges affecting both workplaces and families in South Korea. Nearly one in three parents of school-age and teenage children worry about their child's mental health, contributing to lower mental health scores for parents, six points below the national average. The impact extends beyond home life, with 44 per cent of workers reporting feelings of isolation. These factors create a cycle of stress that strains family dynamics and workplace wellbeing, highlighting the interconnected nature of mental health issues across different aspects of life.
T he TELUS Mental Health Index also found:
"The research insights into the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce are essential for employers in creating supportive environments and cultivating resilience among their teams with a unified, regionally specific solution," said Paula Allen, Global Leader, Research & Client Insights, TELUS Health. "Prioritizing employee mental health and wellbeing can enhance organizational engagement, improve productivity, strengthen company culture, and drive sustainable business success."
In the second quarter of 2025, the mental health scores of workers in various regions were:
The lowest mental health score was reported in the Central region (53.1), followed by Honam (55.6). Workers in Yeognam and Seoul have slightly higher scores at 56.2 and 56.4, respectively.
The Index is based on a response scoring system that turns individual responses into point values. Higher point values are associated with better mental health and less mental health risk. Scores between 0 to 49 correspond with distress levels, scores between 50 to 79 correspond with strain levels and scores between 80 to 100 correspond with optimal levels of mental health.
This Index includes additional findings related to key psycho-social risks in the workplace, and mental health scores related to industry and other demographics. Read the full South Korean TELUS Mental Health Index here.
As the parent company of TELUS Health, TELUS is committed to supporting the wellbeing of its own team members and their families through a flexible, comprehensive strategy. This approach is powered by the same innovative TELUS Health solutions trusted by Fortune 500 companies and has demonstrated real-world impact, with TELUS achieving a more than 20 per cent reduction in mental health disability claims among its own team members.
Note to Editors
About the TELUS Mental Health Index
The research report is conducted globally to examine the mental health of employed people in New Zealand, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada and Europe. The data for the TELUS Health Mental Health Index was collected through an online survey between March 14 and March 27, 2025, with 1,000 respondents. All respondents reside in South Korea and were employed within the last six months. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the regional and gender composition of the sample reflects this population.
About EZNwellness
EZNwellness, a TELUS Health Company, is the leading employee assistance program (EAP) provider in South Korea. Founded in 2015 and based in Seoul, South Korea, EZNwellness provides EAP, digital mental health and psychological experience-based exhibition space. EZNwellness enhances traditional face-to-face EAP services by integrating diverse content, professional consulting at the organizational level, and digital innovations for seamless connection. This approach enables EZNwellness to deliver more comprehensive and effective EAP solutions tailored to modern workplace needs. For more information please visit: www.eznwellness.com
About TELUS Health
TELUS Health is on a mission to become the most trusted wellbeing company in the world by enhancing the overall efficiency of healthcare and championing workplace wellbeing. By integrating advanced healthcare technology with comprehensive employee support services, TELUS Health provides a holistic approach to primary and preventive health and wellbeing enhancing more than 150 million lives across more than 200 countries and territories. Our innovative digital health platforms, including electronic medical records (EMRs) and virtual care solutions, empower healthcare professionals, employers and governments to deliver personalized care efficiently. Our employee wellbeing programs empower individuals by offering extensive support through Employee and Family Assistance Programs (EFAPs), mental health resources, financial counselling and workplace wellness initiatives. At TELUS Health, we are committed to revolutionizing healthcare to ensure people receive the support they need and employees thrive both personally and professionally. Together, let's make the future friendly. For more information please visit: www.telushealth.com.
Logo -
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
Australian Dentists Endorse Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology at Global Symposium in Kunming
Clinicians praise the S8-SGTB appliance for accelerating outcomes, improving patient satisfaction, and offering a non-invasive solution for Class II malocclusions. KUNMING, China, July 11, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Smartee Denti-Technology recently welcomed orthodontic experts and partners from Australia at its Global Symposium in Kunming, China. The event offered a deep dive into Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology and showcased its clinical applications, particularly the innovative S8-SGTB appliance for Class II skeletal malocclusions. Australian clinicians praised the device for its simultaneous orthopedic and orthodontic correction, shorter treatment duration, and patient-friendly design. Dr. Knox Kim, Principal Dentist at Dental Clinic @ World Tower Sydney, shared: "In the past, for treating Class II malocclusions in growing patients, we had to use twin-block appliances before starting aligner therapy. It took at least three to six months to see the improvement. But with Smartee, from my own experience, it only took about one or two weeks before the patient could notice the lower jaw was pushing forward. And when I show the patients and the patients' parents the before and after photos, they were very happy to see such a quick response and improvement." Dr. Jenny J. Song from Blossom Dental Care added: "Compared to traditional functional and fixed appliances, Smartee GS is intelligently designed to guide both mandible repositioning and teeth movement simultaneously. This not only reduces total treatment time but also improves the predictability of outcomes." Dr. Sabrina Liu, a general dentist in Sydney, reflected: "This seminar was eye-opening. The number of successful mandibular repositioning cases using Smartee GS aligners changed my perception of what clear aligners can achieve. I hope more dentists in Australia will learn about this technique to benefit their patients." At the core of Smartee's Mandibular Repositioning Technology is S8-SGTB, a clear, non-invasive appliance designed to treat skeletal Class II discrepancies, minimizing the need for jaw surgeries or extractions. Engineered for both growing and adult patients, it integrates orthopedic and orthodontic functions in a single aligner-based solution. Key features include: The S8-SGTB represents Smartee's commitment to delivering clinically effective, patient-centered treatment paths for complex cases.
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
LG Debuts Next-Generation Precision Medical AI
Joint Development Underway: World-Class Precision Medical AI Platform with Vanderbilt University Medical Center SEOUL, South Korea, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- LG AI Research announced on July 9 the official launch of 'EXAONE Path 2.0', its next-generation precision medical AI model. Following the introduction of its 1.0 model in August of last year, LG AI Research showcased its 1.5 model last month at ASCO 2025, the world's largest oncology conference, held in Chicago, Illinois. 'EXAONE Path 2.0' represents a substantial advancement from the initial version, incorporating high-quality, real-world data. It offers accurate characterization and prediction of gene mutations and expression profiles, as well as minute morphological and structural features of human cells and tissues, all derived directly from pathology slide images. These capabilities make it an essential tool for early detection, prognosis, oncology drug development, and personalized treatment selection. 'EXAONE Path 2.0' was trained using multi-omics data, including both DNA and RNA, enabling it to interpret pathology images and underlying biological processes while integrating genetic insights vital to disease research and therapeutic development. Pathology images refer to high-resolution Whole Slide Images (WSIs) generated during the diagnostic test of patient tissue specimens. Whole Slide Images (WSIs) are large, multi-gigabyte digital files that capture detailed information on cell and tissue architecture. To facilitate analysis, these comprehensive images are typically divided into thousands of smaller sub-images or "patches." When AI models analyze only patch-level data, they are susceptible to a "feature collapse" effect, in which excessive attention to localized features leads to reduced prediction accuracy due to a lack of holistic context. LG AI Research has implemented an innovative approach in 'EXAONE Path 2.0', enabling learning from individual patches through to the full Whole Slide Image. This enhancement has increased the model's gene mutation prediction accuracy to a best-in-class 78.4%, establishing a new State-of-the-Art (SOTA) benchmark. 'EXAONE Path 2.0' was developed using over 10,000 matched datasets comprising Whole Slide Images and multi-omics data. This robust training enables it to predict gene expression patterns solely from image analysis, eliminating the need for expensive molecular testing. Yong-min Park, Head of AI Business Team at LG AI Research, stated, "EXAONE Path 2.0 enables us to reduce molecular testing time from over two weeks to under a minute—helping clinicians capture critical therapeutic windows for cancer patients. By leveraging EXAONE Path 2.0, physicians and pharmaceutical partners can rapidly analyze tissue pathology slides, identify driver mutations, and select appropriate targeted therapies." LG AI Research also introduced additional models trained for specific tumor types, including lung and colorectal cancers. These disease-specific models may support more efficient triaging and early detection of patients eligible for targeted therapeutic interventions. LG AI Research expects 'EXAONE Path 2.0' to play a significant role in clinical trial optimization by enabling real-time monitoring of patient responses and facilitating biomarker discovery for disease prediction. LG AI Research has taken a major step forward in applying AI to cancer care. In collaboration with Professor Tae-hyun Hwang of Vanderbilt University Medical Center—a premier U.S. academic medical institution in biomedical research—LG AI Research is co-developing a cutting-edge multi-modal medical AI platform. Moving away from the conventional model of building technologies prior to clinical validation, the team has adopted a problem-first approach—developing AI solutions in tandem with real-world clinical needs. Together, LG AI Research and Professor Hwang's lab aim to build a platform that supports personalized precision medicine, utilizing real tissue samples, pathology images, and clinical outcome data from cancer patients enrolled in trials. Their joint research will focus on: Professor Tae-hyun Hwang noted, " Our mission goes beyond developing AI models—we are building a platform that actively supports clinicians in the care and treatment of patients. This platform will serve not just as a diagnostic assistant but as a transformative engine for oncology drug development." Professor Hwang is a renowned Korean-American expert leading the Cancer Moonshot's gastric cancer initiative, a U.S. federal program dedicated to accelerating cancer breakthroughs. He also founded the Molecular AI Initiative at Vanderbilt, focused on advancing AI-integrated molecular medicine. "We're now focused on identifying not just what treatments work but when and how to apply them," said Seth Karp, Chair of the Section of Surgical Sciences at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "The collaboration between LG AI Research and Professor Hwang's team marks a critical inflection point. The most meaningful aspect of this partnership is its real-world impact—we are creating a platform that will directly support patient care and improve outcomes." Beginning with oncology, the LG AI Research–Vanderbilt collaboration plans to expand into other domains including transplant immunology, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders such as diabetes. LG AI Research will formally introduce 'EXAONE Path 2.0' during the upcoming LG AI Talk Concert 2025 on July 22. Separately, LG AI Research remains committed to addressing high-burden diseases. It is collaborating with The Jackson Laboratory (JAX) to identify Alzheimer's disease risk factors and advance drug discovery, and is also working with Professor Min-kyung Baek of Seoul National University on AI models for next-generation protein structure prediction. Furthermore, LG AI Research is actively engaged in global partnerships with pharmaceutical and biotech firms to drive innovation in AI-based drug development. LG Corporation Chairman and CEO Kwang-mo Koo has identified AI and biotechnology as strategic growth areas central to improving human health. Reflecting this vision, LG is accelerating efforts in AI–bio convergence through targeted open innovation initiatives aimed at delivering tangible results. About LG Group LG Group is a leading global company representing South Korea, offering innovative products and services across various industries such as electronics, chemicals, telecommunications, and energy. Established in 1947, LG Group has grown into a world-renowned brand through its activities in these diverse fields. The company is committed to continuous research and development, focusing on innovation to enhance the quality of life for its customers. Emphasizing its role as a socially responsible enterprise, LG Group is striving to strengthen its competitiveness in the global market and achieve sustainable growth through its future portfolio in areas like AI, Bio, and Cleantech. The company is dedicated to realizing its vision of being a business that provides value to customers and society, pursuing this mission with unwavering determination. For more information, visit About LG AI Research Launched in December 2020 as the artificial intelligence (AI) research hub of South Korea's LG Group, LG AI Research aims to lead the next epoch of artificial intelligence (AI) to realize a promising future by providing optimal research environments and leveraging state-of-the-art AI technologies. And LG AI Research developed its large-scale AI, EXAONE, a 300 billion parametric multimodal AI model, in 2021. EXAONE, which stands for "Expert AI for Everyone," is a multi-modal large-scale AI model that stands out from its peers due to its ability to process both language and visual data. With one of the world's largest learning data capacities, LG AI Research aims to engineer better business decisions through its state-of-the-art artificial intelligence technologies and its continuous effort on fundamental AI research. For more information, visit About Vanderbilt University Medical Center Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) is one of the nation's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to advancing healthcare through pioneering research, high-impact education, and exceptional patient care. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, VUMC provides comprehensive services across every major clinical specialty and serves as a regional and national referral center for complex conditions. VUMC is a hub for innovation in translational medicine, biomedical informatics, genomics, and AI-driven healthcare. Its close integration with Vanderbilt University enables seamless collaboration across disciplines, accelerating the development of next-generation diagnostics, therapeutics, and digital health solutions. VUMC is home to nationally recognized programs in cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurosciences, transplantation, and surgical innovation, and is committed to bringing cutting-edge discoveries from bench to bedside. For more information, visit
Korea Herald
3 days ago
- Korea Herald
75% of South Korean adults don't exercise enough, data shows
Activity participation higher among younger men, rural regions Only about one in four South Korean adults engage in enough physical activity to meet recommended health standards, making the country one of the most physically inactive populations in the world, according to government data released Thursday. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency reported that only 26.6 percent of adults in the country engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at recommended levels in 2024. That means nearly three out of four Koreans do not get enough exercise. The moderate physical activity standard includes activities that are somewhat more physically demanding than usual and cause slightly heavier breathing -- such as leisurely swimming, doubles tennis, badminton or carrying light objects -- at least five times a week for 30 minutes. Vigorous activity, meanwhile, covers activities that are much more physically demanding and cause heavy breathing -- such as running, hiking, fast-paced cycling, squash and carrying heavy objects -- at least three times a week for 20 minutes. While the MVPA participation rate slowly rebounded post-pandemic, having dipped to an all-time low of 19.7 percent in 2021, the current 26.6 percent is still far below desirable levels, the agency said. 'It is encouraging that the rate of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity has been increasing since the return to daily life,' said KDCA Commissioner Jee Young-mee. 'However, as of 2022, the global physical inactivity rate was 31.3 percent, while South Korea's was 58.1 percent. That's about 1.9 times higher.' South Korea placed 191st among 195 countries surveyed by the World Health Organization -- a stark contrast to the global inactivity rate -- with Sweden at 8.7 percent, Denmark at 12.14 percent, and China at 23.83 percent. Inactivity is defined as performing less than 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week. The analysis also found that South Korean men (30.2 percent) are more active than women (19.5 percent), and young adults in their 20s (32.3 percent) had the highest activity levels among all age groups. In particular, 42.2 percent of men in their 20s met MVPA standards -- the highest across all demographics -- while only 18.3 percent of men aged 70 and above did. Meanwhile, women did not show a consistent decrease with age. In fact, those in their 40s (22.9 percent) and 50s (21.8 percent) were more active than younger or older women, suggesting different patterns in physical activity between genders. Where you live matters Regional disparities were also evident. Sejong showed the highest increase in MVPA from 2021 to 2024, jumping 11.6 percentage points to 29.1 percent. Ulsan and North Chungcheong Province followed with similar gains. Meanwhile, Gwangju saw the smallest change over the same period, with just a 0.9 percentage point increase. Residents in areas outside the major cities were more physically active, likely due to the labor-intensive nature of agricultural and fishery jobs. In contrast, lower activity levels in metropolitan areas were attributed to sedentary urban lifestyles dominated by desk jobs and reliance on public or private transport. In 2024, Seoul recorded an MVPA rate of 26.8 percent, while North Gyeongsang Province saw a rate of 31.8 percent and Jeju Island recorded 33 percent. The KDCA also found significant correlations between physical inactivity and chronic or mental health issues. Adults without hypertension or diabetes were 1.1 times more likely to engage in MVPA than those with such diagnoses. Similarly, those without depressive symptoms were 1.2 times more likely to be physically active than those who experienced depression. 'This reinforces the critical link between physical activity and both physical and mental health,' the agency noted, urging more proactive public health measures. Jee Young-mee, the KDCA commissioner, called the situation alarming, noting that while Korea's activity levels are improving post-pandemic, they remain severely low by global standards. 'Moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is not just about disease prevention. It's essential for healthy aging and overall quality of life,' she said. 'Neglecting it can increase the risk of chronic illness and mental health decline.' Jee urged people to incorporate movement into their daily routines, even starting with small steps, and called for continued government investment in creating supportive environments for active living.
