President Yoon Suk Yeol has pledged to revamp the country's mental health policy, marking the inaugural meeting of a presidential committee focused on expanding state support and reshaping public attitudes towards mental illness. The government plans to allocate an increased state budget to address mental health issues from next year, with an estimated cost of around 300 billion won ($215.7 million), and a focus on reducing social stigma and enhancing understanding of mental health conditions as a national priority until 2027. A newly-launched presidential committee has outlined a comprehensive timeline for implementing policies related to mental illness prevention, treatment, and recovery, aiming to provide mental health counseling services to at least 1 million South Korean citizens by July, and reaching up to 500,000 by 2027. Additionally, state-backed mental health checkups for young adults will become available every two years starting in January next year, and the country will expand its mental health care infrastructure, including crisis counseling and emergency medical centers, to combat the high suicide rate. President Yoon's initiative to tackle mental health challenges in South Korea involves a multi-faceted approach, encompassing financial investment, destigmatization efforts, and the expansion of mental health care services and facilities. The comprehensive plan also includes increasing the number of frontline mental health care personnel and mental rehabilitation facilities, as well as providing new housing for those in need of mental health care. Furthermore, the government aims to hold regular meetings through the presidential committee and hopes these efforts will lead to a significant reduction in the national suicide rate by 2030, addressing a longstanding issue of high suicide rates and low life satisfaction levels in South Korea compared to other nations.