Above 72.6 years old in South Korea? You are now considered a senior citizen

SEOUL - People above the age of 72.6 are considered senior citizens in South Korea, according to a survey by the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

The figure is the average age of respondents who answered “yes” when asked if they considered themselves seniors.

The 2022 report on the welfare and living conditions of the elderly in Seoul, compiled by the city government, was based on a survey conducted from June to August.

The poll included face-to-face surveys with 3,010 respondents above 65.

Currently, “senior citizen” is defined by national law as anyone aged 65 and older. The city government added that the 72.6 age threshold is 7.6 years older than the current legal definition.

Of the survey participants, 43.89 per cent of those aged between 70 and 74 defined themselves as senior citizens.

Among those aged between 76 and 79, 23.39 per cent felt the same.

Around 18 per cent of those above 80 considered themselves senior citizens.

Meanwhile, about 15 per cent of those aged between 60 and 69 considered themselves senior citizens.

Nearly 85 per cent of the elderly responded that they are smartphone users, and 26.3 per cent of senior tech users said they use the Internet to search for the information they need.

According to the findings, the ratio of working senior citizens was on the mend at 41.6 per cent, up 6.5 per cent compared with 2018.

Of them, 28.2 per cent were full-time workers, while 31 per cent were self-employed without employees.

Their average tenure was 15.3 years, receiving 1.9 million won (S$2,000) as their average monthly income.

The Seoul municipal government explained that Seoul’s demographic characteristics had seen a seismic change, driven by the ageing of baby boomers born between 1955 and 1963.

The city government said the results would be used as data for establishing policies for older people, adding that it would make efforts to improve the quality of life for the elderly.

Seniors aged 65 and up accounted for 17.6 per cent of the city’s population last year and have been eligible for free subway travel since 1984.

However, the free subway ride policy for these seniors has become the subject of heated debate as the city government plans to raise transportation fees as early as April.

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon cited the free ride policy as a critical factor that contributed to a near-insurmountable deficit for the metro operator.

Debates about raising the retirement age of 60 also remain on the table, as the budget committee of the national pension service forecasts that the pension funds will be depleted in 2055 amid an ageing population and a falling birth rate. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK