Demographic crisis in South Korea

New figures: South Korea is a “super-aged” society

More than one in five South Koreans is over 65, which according to the UN definition means that the country is now classified as a “super-aged” society. This is reported by CNN based on new figures from the country’s Ministry of the Interior.

This is seen as another sign of the country’s demographic crisis. The birth rate is the lowest in the world and government efforts to encourage more people to have children have not yielded results.

The trend can be seen in several Asian countries and among the explanations mentioned are the increased cost of living and changing attitudes towards marriage among younger generations.
Demographic crisis in South Korea

Poll: Nine out of ten want to raise South Korea's retirement age

Almost nine out of ten South Koreans want the country to raise the retirement age or implement measures to ensure that people can be reemployed or continue working after they reach retirement age. This is according to a poll cited by the Korea Times.

The most common argument is concern for their own economy. Another reason is that the proportion of South Koreans of working age is shrinking. Only just over nine percent oppose such proposals, citing reduced productivity.

New figures were released this week showing that South Korea is a "super-old" country, according to the UN definition.