South Korea is seeing a sharp rise in sleep disorder cases, with children under 10 recording the fastest increase amid concerns over screen time, academic pressure and night work.
Are South Korea’s children losing sleep before they even reach their teens?
New health insurance data suggest the country’s sleep crisis is no longer limited to overworked adults, with sleep disorder cases rising sharply among children and adolescents.
A total of 1,346,196 South Koreans were treated for sleep disorders in 2025, up from 1,088,038 in 2021, according to data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service cited by The Korea Herald.
This represents an increase of about 24% over four years.
Sleep disorders include conditions that disturb normal sleep patterns, such as chronic insomnia and sleep apnea. Insomnia can make it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep, while sleep apnea causes repeated breathing interruptions during sleep.(1✔ ✔Trusted Source
Sleep Disorder
Poor or insufficient sleep can affect daytime functioning, mood, learning, memory, physical health and quality of life.
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Sleep Disorder Cases Rose More Than 20% in Four Years
The number of South Koreans treated for sleep disorders increased by more than 20% between 2021 and 2025. People in their 60s accounted for the largest number of patients, with 321,219 cases.
They were followed by people in their 50s, with 257,424 cases, and people in their 70s, with 244,138 cases.
This shows that sleep disorders remain a major concern among older adults, especially because aging can be linked to changes in sleep quality, chronic illness and medication use.
However, the most striking trend was seen among younger age groups.
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Children Under 10 Recorded the Sharpest Rise
The number of sleep disorder patients under 10 rose by 67.5% over the four-year period, reaching 3,726 cases.
Teenage patients also increased by 32.6%, reaching 11,633 cases. Although the absolute number of child patients remained much smaller than that of older adults, the rate of increase among children was the highest.(2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Sleep disorders are rising in Korea. The sharpest increase? Children under 10
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This raises concern because sleep problems that begin early in life can affect attention, learning, emotional control, behaviour and mental health.
Experts said sleep problems in children and teenagers may be linked to late-night smartphone use, short-form videos, homework pressure and demanding academic schedules.
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Korean Adults Are Sleeping Less Than the OECD Average
South Koreans are among the world’s more sleep-deprived populations.
A 2024 survey by the Korean Sleep Research Society found that Koreans slept an average of 6 hours and 58 minutes a night in 2025. This was reported to be 18% below the OECD average of 8 hours and 22 minutes.
Short sleep can become a public health concern when it becomes routine rather than occasional. Insufficient sleep has been linked to higher risks of anxiety, depression, obesity, heart disease, injury and other serious health problems.
Screen Time May Be Delaying Children’s Sleep
Experts pointed to increased screen time as one possible factor behind rising sleep disorder cases among children and teens. Many young people stay up late watching short-form videos, using social media or playing games on smartphones.
Screen exposure close to bedtime can delay sleep, increase alertness and disrupt bedtime routines. Children and teenagers may also find it harder to stop using devices once they begin scrolling through fast-moving content.(2✔ ✔Trusted Source
Sleep disorders are rising in Korea. The sharpest increase? Children under 10
This can push bedtime later, reduce total sleep time and affect next-day concentration and mood.
Academic Pressure May Be Adding to Sleep Loss
Academic pressure is another concern in South Korea. Children and teenagers may stay up late because of schoolwork, private tutoring, exam preparation or competition-related stress.
When academic workload combines with screen use, bedtime can be delayed further.
Sleep problems that start at a young age may increase the risk of depression and behavioural difficulties later in life, according to experts cited in the report.
This makes sleep health an important part of child and adolescent well-being, not only a lifestyle issue.
Night Work and 24-Hour Services May Also Affect Sleep
The rise of around-the-clock services may also be contributing to sleep problems among adults. These include overnight deliveries, 24-hour convenience stores and other services that depend on late-night or overnight labour.
According to the Korea Labor Institute, about 2.17 million people worked night shifts between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. on weekdays in 2024. This accounted for 14.2% of the total workforce.
Although the number of weekday night workers fell compared with 2019, weekend night workers increased from 817,000 in 2019 to 1.18 million in 2024.
Shift work can disrupt the body’s natural sleep-wake rhythm, making it harder to maintain regular and restorative sleep.
Poor Sleep Can Affect Mental and Physical Health
The Korean Society of Sleep Medicine warned that insufficient sleep can worsen depression and anxiety. It also noted that poor sleep may increase the likelihood of serious illnesses, including dementia and cardiovascular disease.
Sleep is closely connected to brain function, emotional regulation, metabolism, immunity and heart health.
When sleep problems become chronic, they can affect both personal health and wider productivity. This is why sleep disorders need to be treated as a public health issue rather than only an individual problem.
Better Access to Sleep Evaluation and Treatment Is Needed
Experts have called for expanded access to sleep evaluation and treatment. This may include screening for insomnia, sleep apnea and other sleep disorders, especially among children, teenagers, older adults and shift workers.
For children and adolescents, prevention may also require healthier screen habits, consistent bedtime routines and better awareness among parents, schools and healthcare providers.
For adults, workplace policies around night shifts, rest periods and access to medical care may also matter.
South Korea’s Sleep Crisis Needs Early Action
The rise in sleep disorder cases shows that South Korea’s sleep problem is affecting multiple generations. Older adults still account for the largest number of patients, but children under 10 are showing the fastest increase.
That trend is especially concerning because childhood sleep problems can affect development, mental health and daily functioning. The findings suggest that sleep health should be addressed through schools, families, workplaces and healthcare systems.
Reducing screen-related sleep disruption, easing excessive academic pressure, improving shift-work protections and expanding sleep care could help prevent today’s sleep problems from becoming tomorrow’s long-term health burden.
References:
- Sleep Disorder – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560720/
span> - Sleep disorders are rising in Korea. The sharpest increase? Children under 10- (https://www.koreaherald.com/article/10807405)
Source-Medindia