South Korea's ICT ministry said on July 15 the country plans to invest nearly USD 26.2 million over the next three years to research digital treatment for depression in a move to find new ways to help the growing number of people suffering from the mental disorder. 

The number of depression patients in South Korea reached 790,000 in 2019, up 5.9 per cent on-year, and the number is expected to rise as the pandemic restricts social activities and triggers economic uncertainty.