Ju Hyeonghwan, vice chair of the Low Birth Rate and Aging Society Committee, said on the 11th, “In Korea, starting next year, the elderly population is expected to increase by about 1% point annually, and by 2045, the proportion will reach 37.3%, making Korea the country with the highest proportion of elderly people in the world.”
Vice Chair Ju made this statement at the 6th Population Strategy Joint Forum held at the Korea Press Center, noting that “Korea is experiencing unprecedented rapid aging due to three major factors: ultra-low birth rates, increased life expectancy, and the aging of the baby boomer generation.”
Ju noted, “Rapid aging will have a broad impact on the entire economy and society, threatening Korea’s sustainability and exacerbating polarization.”
Furthermore, Vice Chair Ju stated, “A greater issue is that the proportion of the population aged 80 and over, which requires significant medical and care support, will more than quadruple in 25 years, and by 2050, one in five people will be 80 or older,” adding that “if the current trend continues, there is concern that Korean society will fall into the trap of low growth.”
Vice Chair Ju also emphasized, “To enhance the sustainability of our society, a new paradigm suitable for a super-aged society and an integrated approach to welfare, employment, and healthcare are necessary,” and added, “We must enhance social inclusivity through mutual cooperation and gap reduction while preparing a new growth strategy focused on productivity improvement and innovation.”
The forum was held under the theme 'Diagnosis and Challenges in Responding to an Aging Society.' Participants including Seok Jaeeun, a professor at Hallym University, Lee Yoonkyung, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, and Kim Jeongseok, president of the Population Association of Korea, presented various solutions to address the aging society.
The Low Birth Rate and Aging Society Committee plans to continue holding forums and seminars on issues related to responding to an aging society to gather diverse opinions and subsequently establish and announce 'Measures to Address an Aging Society.'