DU has drawn attention lately thanks to its new counseling support program that makes use of peer counselors to help prevent suicide through the proper response to psychological crisis situations and mental stability issues.

The program trains advisers from the students’ peer group to act as counselors for students contemplating suicide because of family matters, relationships with friends, problems with the opposite sex, or problems with university. Peer counselors are able to see eye to eye with the troubled students.

It is the first program of its kind to operate in universities across the nation and is run from this year. On January 14, Keum Myoungja, the team leader of the Student Life Consultation Center, won the 2008 superiority program prize at the Korea University Student Life Institute Conference.