KDI "한국 고령화속도 OECD 최고…고령자 노동참여 중요"
South Korea will become a super-aged society by 2026,... when over one fifth of the population would be older than 65.
A recent study revealed, in order to prepare for this fast-approaching reality, the labor force of older generations must be expanded.
Kim Da-mi explains further.
The issue of South Korea's aging population is not a new one,...in fact, the country is transitioning into a super-aged society,...faster than any other OECD member.
By 2050,... for every 100 people in the working age bracket,... there will be 73 aged over 65,... 20 percent higher than the OECD average.
This means only 36 percent of the country’s total population will be responsible for production and services...
To prevent such crisis, the expert who conducted the study, says the older generation must actively engage in economic activities.
“Because the country’s birth rate continues to drop,...existing measures such as increasing alternative labor force with women and youth are neither enough nor effective. We have to make the best use out of the existing population.”
He added that it is necessary to get rid of mandatory retirement solely based on a certain age,...and instead reconsider the country's social systems such as categorizing those aged over 65 as elderly.
He also stressed the need to further improve age-friendly labor policies and systems,... such as providing lifelong education and allowing retirement based solely on workers' abilities.
Kim Da-mi, Arirang News.
