A recent survey predicted Seoul will become an aged society in which 20 percent of the population is over 65 by 2027 - the rate is currently 9 percent. The number of single-person elderly households also soared to 94,855 in 2005 from 11,632 in 1985.
The survey, conducted on 5,000 people over 65, found that 44 percent of senior citizens consider themselves as the lower class: politically, economically and socially. Their biggest problems were financial difficulties and health problems.
"The aged generation has been increasing rapidly, but the economically productive population has been decreasing," a city official said. "Seoul needs to provide jobs for the 'silver generation' and proper welfare policies."
Despite the increasing significance of welfare for seniors, only 28 percent of Seoulites said they could pay more tax for welfare, which raises the question of how to amass sufficient funding.
According to the Seoul survey, one out of every three suicides involved people over 60 years old. The average suicide rate reached 49 out of 100,000 in 2008, double the 23 in 2000. Last year, 637 of those over 60 killed themselves, marking seventh place in terms of cause of death.
The trend is similar nationwide. The National Statistics Office said 4,365 suicides involved those over 60-years-old - out of a total of 12,858. The rate is 112.9 for those over 80, up five-fold of the 22.6 for those in their 20s.
"The suicide rate among the aged is increasing as they feel isolated or suffer from a poor financial situation through disbanded families and 'twilight divorces' - filing for divorce after more than 20 years of marital life," said Rep. Jung Mi-kyeong of the Grand National Party.
"Korea is becoming an aging society and the nuclear family and dissolution of the ties is driving the isolation of the aged. Welfare authorities should care about the dark side of society where old people suffer from poverty and disease."
Japan introduced an insurance system customized for the rising numbers of the older generation in 2000.
"Japan had a social consensus that caring for the aged is the family's job, but the introduction of this insurance shows the social recognition of the aging society," an official of the National Health Insurance Corporation said. "However, this system was criticized over financing. We should make a mutual agreement on premiums and policy with all social classes so as not to make the same mistake." [rc]
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
Copyright Korea Times Co.kr
September 27, 2009
KOREA: Seoulites Are Aging
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SEOUL, Korea / The Korea Times /
Seoulites Are Aging / Nation Digest / September 27, 2009
By Kwon Mee-yoo, Staff Reporter
A recent survey predicted Seoul will become an aged society in which 20 percent of the population is over 65 by 2027 - the rate is currently 9 percent. The number of single-person elderly households also soared to 94,855 in 2005 from 11,632 in 1985.
The survey, conducted on 5,000 people over 65, found that 44 percent of senior citizens consider themselves as the lower class: politically, economically and socially. Their biggest problems were financial difficulties and health problems.
"The aged generation has been increasing rapidly, but the economically productive population has been decreasing," a city official said. "Seoul needs to provide jobs for the 'silver generation' and proper welfare policies."
Despite the increasing significance of welfare for seniors, only 28 percent of Seoulites said they could pay more tax for welfare, which raises the question of how to amass sufficient funding.
According to the Seoul survey, one out of every three suicides involved people over 60 years old. The average suicide rate reached 49 out of 100,000 in 2008, double the 23 in 2000. Last year, 637 of those over 60 killed themselves, marking seventh place in terms of cause of death.
The trend is similar nationwide. The National Statistics Office said 4,365 suicides involved those over 60-years-old - out of a total of 12,858. The rate is 112.9 for those over 80, up five-fold of the 22.6 for those in their 20s.
"The suicide rate among the aged is increasing as they feel isolated or suffer from a poor financial situation through disbanded families and 'twilight divorces' - filing for divorce after more than 20 years of marital life," said Rep. Jung Mi-kyeong of the Grand National Party.
"Korea is becoming an aging society and the nuclear family and dissolution of the ties is driving the isolation of the aged. Welfare authorities should care about the dark side of society where old people suffer from poverty and disease."
Japan introduced an insurance system customized for the rising numbers of the older generation in 2000.
"Japan had a social consensus that caring for the aged is the family's job, but the introduction of this insurance shows the social recognition of the aging society," an official of the National Health Insurance Corporation said. "However, this system was criticized over financing. We should make a mutual agreement on premiums and policy with all social classes so as not to make the same mistake." [rc]
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
Copyright Korea Times Co.kr
A recent survey predicted Seoul will become an aged society in which 20 percent of the population is over 65 by 2027 - the rate is currently 9 percent. The number of single-person elderly households also soared to 94,855 in 2005 from 11,632 in 1985.
The survey, conducted on 5,000 people over 65, found that 44 percent of senior citizens consider themselves as the lower class: politically, economically and socially. Their biggest problems were financial difficulties and health problems.
"The aged generation has been increasing rapidly, but the economically productive population has been decreasing," a city official said. "Seoul needs to provide jobs for the 'silver generation' and proper welfare policies."
Despite the increasing significance of welfare for seniors, only 28 percent of Seoulites said they could pay more tax for welfare, which raises the question of how to amass sufficient funding.
According to the Seoul survey, one out of every three suicides involved people over 60 years old. The average suicide rate reached 49 out of 100,000 in 2008, double the 23 in 2000. Last year, 637 of those over 60 killed themselves, marking seventh place in terms of cause of death.
The trend is similar nationwide. The National Statistics Office said 4,365 suicides involved those over 60-years-old - out of a total of 12,858. The rate is 112.9 for those over 80, up five-fold of the 22.6 for those in their 20s.
"The suicide rate among the aged is increasing as they feel isolated or suffer from a poor financial situation through disbanded families and 'twilight divorces' - filing for divorce after more than 20 years of marital life," said Rep. Jung Mi-kyeong of the Grand National Party.
"Korea is becoming an aging society and the nuclear family and dissolution of the ties is driving the isolation of the aged. Welfare authorities should care about the dark side of society where old people suffer from poverty and disease."
Japan introduced an insurance system customized for the rising numbers of the older generation in 2000.
"Japan had a social consensus that caring for the aged is the family's job, but the introduction of this insurance shows the social recognition of the aging society," an official of the National Health Insurance Corporation said. "However, this system was criticized over financing. We should make a mutual agreement on premiums and policy with all social classes so as not to make the same mistake." [rc]
meeyoo@koreatimes.co.kr
Copyright Korea Times Co.kr
