National 2024-02-1008:37
How old is 'elderly?'
Older adults wait in line for a free lunchtime meal service at Tapgol Park in Jongno District, Seoul, Jan. 10. Yonhap
Experts weigh in on shifting age standards for seniors with consideration for pensions and retirement age
By Jung Da-hyun
Traditionally, the elderly are considered to be those aged 65 and older, but the decadeslong perception of the age from which a person can be considered a senior citizen appears to be in question following a young politician's controversial proposal of scrapping free subway rides for the country's older adults.
In line with the political pledge, questions over from what age a person can be considered "elderly" are emerging, with some saying the age should be raised from 65 to 70 as average life expectancy increases and the number of older adults among the population grows.
Currently, most welfare systems for older people are based on individuals aged 65 and older. Offering free subway rides for people aged over 65 is one such policy. The benchmark age of 65 was established through the enactment of the Welfare of the Aged Act in 1981.
According to Statistics Korea, the number of people aged 65 and over was 9.5 million in 2023, constituting 18.4 percent of the total population. This proportion is expected to reach 20.6 percent in 2025 and surpass 40 percent by 2050.
A survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2020 indicates that 52.7 percent of individuals aged over 65 believe the age for acquiring senior citizen status should be between 70 and 74. Another survey in 2022, conducted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government, suggests that 72.6 years is considered the age at which the phase of older life begins.
The economic burden of supporting these older people, due to a low birthrate and aging population, supports the need to raise the age standard.
Resident registration population statistics from last year show that those in their 70s and older surpassed those in their 20s. The sustenance allowance for older adults is set to experience a significant surge, with projections indicating an anticipated rise from 27.4 in 2024 to 104.2 in 2072 for every 100 working-age individuals aged 15 to 64.
An older man walks toward the turnstiles at Jongno 3-ga Station in Seoul, Feb. 8, 2023. Yonhap
Experts agree on the need to discuss raising the age standard for defining old age.
Jeong Se-eun, a professor of economics at Chungnam National University, says that adjusting the age based on increasing life expectancy is plausible.
"There are individuals nowadays who, unlike in the past, remain sufficiently healthy to continue working beyond the age of 65," she said.
Chung Soon-dool, a professor of social welfare at Ewha Womans University, also mentioned that older people today are noticeably distinct from their counterparts in the past.
"There's a perception that they age about 10 to 15 years more slowly than before. Many argue that being considered an 'old man' at the age of 65 is now seen as relatively youthful," she said.
Nevertheless, experts said that any increase in the age standard should carefully take into account the implications for pension and retirement age.
"Raising the age for eligibility in welfare standards for the elderly without concurrently extending the retirement age could significantly impact livelihoods in later years," Jeong said.
"Currently, many individuals in their 60s or older express a desire to continue working, but it is imperative to actively create employment opportunities for the elderly beyond simple roles like collecting garbage."
Chung also noted the necessity of establishing a social system that ensures senior income by extending the retirement age.
"For instance, if the eligibility age for services like free subway rides is raised to 70, the benefits will decrease, requiring individuals to bear additional costs. Therefore, social systems should be prepared to alleviate the burden on seniors," she said.
Park Seung-hee, a professor of social welfare at Sungkyunkwan University, said that practical discussions on how to address income and job problems among older adults are needed while discussing raising the age standard.
The government is examining the issue of the age standard for senior citizens. In March of last year, the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy decided to review the relevant criteria due to the burden on future generations. However, follow-up discussions are proceeding at a sluggish pace.
