Health Minister Park Neung-hoo makes a keynote speech at a workshop organized by the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy at Best Western Premier Seoul Garden Hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap



By Kim Hyun-bin



The government is seeking to revise the legal definition of "old age" to 70 from the current 65 to better adapt to the rapidly aging society.



However, it may not be easy to gain a public consensus as the increase is directly related to employment, pensions and welfare, and has faced a strong backlash from senior citizens.



The Presidential Committee on the Aging Society and Population Policy said Thursday it will establish a taskforce next month to thoroughly examine the issue.



"We are on the verge of becoming a super-aged society," Health and Welfare Minister Park Neung-hoo said during a committee workshop. "We need to start discussions on raising the age from 65 to 70."



In 2025, 20 percent of Koreans will be over 65, and their life expectancy will be the longest in the world, leading to more senior citizens wanting to continue working, he added.



According to Park, if the legal age of the "elderly" is raised gradually, the working population will increase by 4.24 million in 2040 compared to not raising the age. With the nation's birthrate showing no signs of improving, the plan is aimed at maintaining the working age population by having more senior citizens continue to work. Many already remain employed after "retirement" ― an OECD report last year showed that 31.5 percent of people aged over 65 in Korea were working, more than double the OECD average of 14.5 percent.



"Most people perceive senior citizens as someone over 70 years old. However, by law it is people over 65. In addition many companies set their retirement age at 60, so the legal age for being elderly is much lower than society perceives," Park said.



The minister did, however, emphasize that there needs to be simultaneous structural reform along with the age revision, including more support for the elderly to get jobs or start their own businesses. He added that the creation of jobs suitable to senior citizens, the expansion of lifelong education and an increase in basic living subsidies for the underprivileged were also necessary.



Structural reform is needed because even now many senior citizens have no income after retirement but before they can receive their pension. If the legal age is raised 70, this period will also increase.



The age revision will also have a direct effect on welfare policies for senior citizens, including free subway rides and dental treatment, the basic pension and other discounts and benefits.



"The population is aging quickly, so we have no choice but to raise the legal age. What matters most is when to do it," said Kim Sang-hee, the vice-chairwoman of the committee.



"The previous administrations also wanted to make the changes but backed out. However, we will continue to research and cooperate with local governments and related entities to come to a decision."

