Among Seoul's 25 districts, also known as “gu” in Korea, three affluent neighborhoods—Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, and Songpa-gu—exhibited the lowest cancer mortality rate from 2019 to 2021, a report showed.

Based on the findings of the "2022 Seoul Health Disparity Monitoring Report" published by the Seoul Health Foundation, Gangnam-gu exhibited the lowest cancer mortality rate among the districts of Seoul between 2019 and 2021, recording 71 deaths per 100,000 individuals. This was succeeded by Seocho-gu (71.1) and Songpa-gu (74.6).

The three districts also ranked low in cancer mortality by the type of cancer, including lung and liver cancer.

Seocho-gu had the lowest lung cancer mortality rate with 12.3 per 100,000 people, followed by Songpa-gu (13.8), and Gangnam-gu (14.3). 

Liver cancer mortality rates were also lower in Gangnam-gu (7.6), Seocho-gu (7.7), and Songpa-gu (9.1).

In that same timeframe, the majority of districts situated north of the Han River displayed a greater cancer mortality rate compared to districts located south of the river. Notably, Gangbuk-gu registered the highest cancer mortality rate among Seoul’s 25 districts, with 94.8 deaths per 100,000 individuals, followed by Jungnang-gu (93.2) and Dongdaemun-gu (90.4).

The overall average cancer mortality rate for Seoul was 84 deaths per 100,000 individuals. When examined by gender, the cancer mortality rate in men (111.2) was approximately double that of women (56.8).

The report attributed these varying outcomes primarily to lifestyle factors. Notably, the prevalence of smoking, measured among approximately 900 individuals in each district in 2021, was elevated in districts situated north of the Han River. Jungnang-gu exhibited the highest percentage of smokers within its district at 19.6 percent, followed by Yangcheon-gu (18.7 percent) and Gangbuk-gu (18.2 percent). Across Seoul as a whole, the overall smoking rate was 15.7 percent.

Residents of districts located north of the Han River also demonstrated a higher rate of alcohol consumption.

In terms of the percentage of heavy drinkers, Gangbuk-gu held the top position with 13.4 percent, followed by Geumcheon-gu at 13.2 percent. The report defined heavy drinkers as individuals who consumed seven or more shots in a single sitting (for men) or five or more shots per sitting (for women) or those who drank on more than two occasions in a week. The average for Seoul was 9.1 percent.

The report additionally revealed an increase in the occurrence of depression among Seoul residents aged 19 and above. This group experienced feelings of sadness or hopelessness that disrupted their daily routines for more than two consecutive weeks within the past year. The prevalence of such cases rose from 6.5 percent in 2019 to 6.8 percent in 2021.