This March 26, 2021, file photo shows people crossing a street in Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 4 (Korea Bizwire) — The happiness index, representing the level of life satisfaction, remains low among South Korean adults.
According to a report from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, a research team conducted a study of 226,545 adults over 19 years of age who participated in the community health survey in 2015.
The aim was to identify factors influencing their happiness index and subjective sense of happiness.
The results showed that the group’s happiness index scored 6.68 out of 10, with only 34.7 percent of all respondents feeling subjectively happy.
When sorted by age, 39.5 percent of those between 19 and 44 reported feeling subjectively happy, followed by 35.3 percent in the 45-64 age group, 29.7 percent in the 65-74 age group, and 25.7 percent in those over 75 years old.
“The findings reflect the reality of South Korean society, where senior poverty and the senior suicide rate are significantly high,” the researchers said.
When sorted by education, the happiness percentages were 25 percent for those with no schooling or only elementary education, 32.3 percent for middle or high school graduates, and 44.1 percent for university graduates or higher.
Regarding household income, 23.1 percent of those earning less than 990,000 won (US$756) per month reported feeling happy, compared to 31.6 percent of those earning between 1 and 2.99 million won, 39.8 percent of those making 3 to 4.99 million won, and 49.1 percent of those earning more than 5 million won.
Those living with a spouse reported feeling subjectively happier than those without a spouse, regardless of reasons such as divorce, separation, widowhood, or being unmarried.
Happiness was positively influenced by active participation in various social activities, engaging with family, neighbors, and friends, having faith in one’s healthy physical condition, being satisfied with the social and physical environment, and getting enough sleep and breakfast.
In contrast, happiness was undermined by difficulties in accessing necessary medical treatment, struggling with conditions like arthritis, diabetes, or high blood pressure, and engaging in smoking or drinking.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
