Our idea to stop and prevent the suicides on the Bridge was not installing a physical device to hinder the suicides, but to create an interactive bridge that would change the people’s minds through communication and a human touch.

This is the world's first innovative suicide-preventing rail lighting system that uses digital technology (sensors and LEDs) with an analog touch (storytelling and copy lines).

We installed sensors on the guardrails, so that when people walked by, lights turned on according to their movements. On the lighted rails appeared short messages, making it seem as if the bridge was speaking to the passers-by. The 20 or so messages that were shown were not warnings or teachings, but rather kind words, comforting song lyrics, funny jokes, and other phrases that would speak to the anxious and confused minds of those attempting to end their lives.

Our intention was to have the pedestrians keep reading the messages that were shown throughout the 2.2km of the Mapo Bridge through the ‘Bridge of Life’ installation, and eventually walk all the way to the other end without realizing it.

In the beginning, we combined sensors and LEDs (backed by private capital) and developed about a dozen prototypes suitable for the Mapo Bridge in the span of 1 year. Afterwards, Samsung Life Insurance invested 600 million KRW (approx. $530,000) for the actual development.

Prior to the installation, the annual death benefit through suicide paid out by Samsung Life Insurance reached approximately 40 billion KRW (37 million USD), and was the No.1 reason for payment, with over 10% of the total insurance amount.

Since the opening of the Bridge of Life on Sep 26th, 2012, until today (Mar 26th, 2013), the suicide rate has dropped by 77%.

This is the first time ever to use a bridge installation with lights and words to speak to the hearts of people. Protective measures such as walls and safety nets had been used on the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, or the Nanjing Bridge in China, but they hadn't been continued due to their lack of effectiveness in preventing suicide.

Currently, we are planning for additional installations on other bridges, in hopes that it will help decrease the suicide rate in Seoul, and Korea.

We also hope that this technology can be applied to other bridges around the world with a high suicide rate.

But primarily, this innovative technology has helped decrease the suicide rate on the Mapo Bridge by 77%, and if even just one life can be saved through this campaign, we believe in its meaning and value more than anything.

The Bridge of Life has received widespread national coverage on TV and in newspapers with 177 reports, as well as global coverage in 8 different media (Reuters, Voice of America, China TV The Tokyo Times, etc.). About 11,000 posts about the Mapo Bridge have been shared on social networks, of which 92% are positive.