With the highest suicide rate among OECD countries, South Korea is facing serious problems regarding social integration. While many previous studies have focused on the meso or micro level factors responsible for suicide, this paper will discuss macro levelchanges affecting modes of solidarity within Korean society. In the 1950s and 1960s, Koreans shared the common goal of rebuilding the nation. Following that, the 1970s and1980s can be viewed as the era of democratization, during which the development discourse and theses on equality predominated in equal parts. Since the mid-1990s, however, South Korea has been facing an unprecedented level of uncertainty. Each shiftin the societal climate has created a different way for citizens to feel a sense of collectivebelonging. It is argued that as we enter an era where individual isolation can only get worse, research on suicide and on social integration in general should take into consideration national historical trends and their impact on individuals.

FOREWORD:SUICIDE AS AN OBJECT OF SOCIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS
 SUICIDE IN KOREA: OVERALL TRENDS
 SOCIAL CONDITIONS AND SUICIDE IN SOUTH KOREA:CHANGING MODES OF SOLIDARITY
  In the Time of Poverty: Rebuilding the Nation and Rising from the Ashes
  In the Time of Development and Democratization: Social Mobilizationand a Commitment to Shared Values
  In the Time of Social Unrest: the Age of Uncertainty (Alienation in anAfter-Modern Context)
 CONCLUSION:SOCIAL INTEGRATION AND UNDERSTANDING SUICIDE
 

• Andrew Ho KIM(candidate at the Department of Sociology, Korea University)
• Pildoo SUNG(Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Sociology, Korea Universit) 교신저자