the aims of this study were to analyze annual trends of charcoal burning ( cb ) suicide , 2000 to 2011 , and to examine the risk factors of cb suicide in korea . 
 data on suicides ( n=138,938 ) were obtained from the statistics korea . 
 the proportion of cb suicides among all suicide deaths reported was 0.7% ( 84 cases ) in 2007 , and since 2008 it has rapidly increased to 7.9% ( 1,251 cases ) in 2011 . 
 of significant risk factors of cb suicide , the presence of the media report of ahn 's suicide was the greatest risk factor ( adjusted odds ratio , 11.69 ; 95% ci , 10.30 - 13.23 ) of the initial phase of the continuing cb suicides since 2008 . 
 korean government should urgently consider effective measures against cb suicide , including enforced media regulations on reporting such suicides.graphical abstract