Cancer deaths account for 28.3% of total deaths in 2013

Cancer remained the No. 1 cause of death in South Korea last year, the government reported Tuesday. The number of cancer deaths totaled 75,334, which accounted for 28.3 percent of the total deaths reported in 2013, according to the country's statistical office, Statistics Korea.

Lung cancer topped the cancer deaths list with 34 deaths per 100,000 people, followed by liver cancer with 22.6 deaths and stomach cancer with 18.2 deaths.

The number of cancer deaths per 100,000 people stood at 149. The comparable figure stood at 50.3 for cerebrovascular diseases, 50.2 for heart diseases, 28.5 for suicide, 21.5 for diabetes, 21.4 for pneumonia, 14.0 for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 13.2 for liver diseases.

Suicide was the No. 1 cause of death among teenagers and those in their 20s, while cancer was the leading cause of death among those aged nine or younger and people aged 40 or older.

Deaths caused by cancer and cerebrovascular and heart diseases accounted for 47.4 percent of the total deaths.

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com

Cancer deaths account for 28.3% of total deaths in 2013

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