Fire and fury: North Korean threats and South Korean adolescent health

Purpose

We determine the impact of the increased risk of war resulting from the inter-Korean tensions of 2016, which culminated in two nuclear tests by North Korea, on the health of South Korean adolescents. Our health indicators are mental symptoms of depression and aggression, but also physical symptoms such as headaches and fever.

Method

We use representative data from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) for the Seoul Capital Area in 2014, 2015 and 2016 (N = 1745). In our regression analysis, we apply a difference-in-differences approach and use adolescents living near the border with North Korea in 2016 as the treatment group.

Results

We find that adolescents residing in the border regions with North Korea during the crisis year 2016 had 3.67 percent more depressive and 5.52 percent more aggressive symptoms, but also more physical problems such as headaches (6.82 percent) and fever (5.44 percent), findings that are more pronounced for females.

Discussion

We call on policymakers to keep the health of adolescents, especially young women, in mind during times of crisis. Schools in geopolitically tense areas can help build resilience.