Park Jang-hyun Appointed as the 36th MHK, Mental Health Keeper

Singer Park Jang-hyun has been appointed as the 36th MHK, Mental Health Keeper of the Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center. The appointment ceremony was held during the ‘2026 Seoul Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Day Commemorative Event’ held on October 1.

The Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center has been operating the MHK, Mental Health Keeper since 2005. The purpose is to appoint figures from various fields such as media, culture, and arts as keepers to reduce social prejudice regarding mental health and to allow citizens to access related information more easily. Currently, about 40 people are active, including the 35th MHK, Lee Myung-soo, a psychiatrist.

After receiving an appointment plaque and a single-wing-shaped badge, Park Jang-hyun delivered a message supporting the mental health of Seoul citizens. He then performed a celebratory concert. The Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center explained that the comfort and sincerity Park Jang-hyun has conveyed through music align with activities to improve mental health awareness. Amid the trend of expanding mental health from being viewed only as an individual problem to an area of daily management, the participation of a figure familiar to the public is expected to increase the effectiveness of the message delivery.

Park Jang-hyun said, “I am grateful to be appointed as the 36th MHK, Mental Health Keeper,” and added, “As someone who has also felt intense emotions of anxiety and experienced pain, I felt that taking good care of and managing one's mind is truly important.” He stated, “I will continue to be a person who can share warm hearts with many people.” Lee Ki-yeon, head of the Seoul Metropolitan Mental Health Welfare Center, said, “We expect that the comfort and sincerity Park Jang-hyun has conveyed through music will be a great strength in supporting the mental health of Seoul citizens.”