South Korea’s Super-Aged Society: A Demographic Time Bomb
South Korea officially entered “super-aged” society status on Monday, with 20 percent of its 51.22 million population now aged 65 or older—a total of 10.24 million people. This milestone follows a steady increase in the elderly population, exceeding 10 percent in 2008 and 15 percent in 2019. The nation’s demographic crisis, marked by low birth rates and rapid aging, has prompted the government to establish a new population strategy ministry to address the issue. Regional disparities exist, with Jeolla Province showing the highest proportion of elderly residents at 27.18 percent.
John Q. Hosedrinker