South Korea functions as a SHINING counterexample to the prevailing belief that happiness is related to the economic success of a society. As the economy grew, the stress in South Korean society increased, as did the rates of depression and suicide. The takeaway here is that countries must take an active hand in providing for the health of their citizens – both physical and mental. Countries like South Korea are economically but not socially viable, and a country needs to be both in order to be sustainable. South Korea needs to take decisive action to ensure that its citizens are safe from the biggest threat of all: themselves.