The Ministry of Health and Welfare released findings from its inaugural nationwide survey on senior citizens aged 65 and above who engage in waste paper collection as a means of livelihood. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Dec. 29 (Korea Bizwire) – On December 28, the Ministry of Health and Welfare released findings from its inaugural nationwide survey on senior citizens aged 65 and above who engage in waste paper collection as a means of livelihood.
The survey disclosed that there are 42,000 such individuals across the country. This marks the first time the government has undertaken a comprehensive examination of waste paper collectors nationwide.
In contrast to previous years when waste paper commanded a price exceeding 100 won per kilogram, the current economic slowdown has led to a decrease, with prices now hovering in the 30-won range.
The small carts that paper waste paper collectors usually use can hold around 400 kilograms of waste paper, yielding just over 10,000 won for a load exceeding 400 kilograms.
The small carts that paper waste paper collectors usually use can hold around 400 kilograms of waste paper, yielding just over 10,000 won for a load exceeding 400 kilograms. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged, a subsidiary of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, surveyed 105 of the nation’s 4,282 junk shops to estimate the total number of senior citizens engaged in waste paper collection.
Additionally, a face-to-face survey was conducted with 1035 elderly individuals.
The study revealed that the average age of waste paper collectors is 76 years, with a significant proportion living alone (36.4%) or in pairs (56.7%). On average, these collectors work 5.4 hours per day, six days a week, earning 159,000 won monthly, translating to 1226 won per hour—merely 12.7% of the current minimum wage (9620 won per hour).
The primary motivations for engaging in waste paper collection were financial difficulties, with “earning a living” (53.8%) and “needing pocket money” (29.3%) cited as predominant reasons.
Their average household income was notably lower at 1.15 million won per month compared to the overall average for elderly households (2.52 million won) according to the 2020 Elderly Living Conditions Survey.
Despite 93.2% receiving a basic pension, additional public pensions like the National Pension (24.9%) and the National Basic Livelihood Security Benefit (12.7%) were insufficient to meet their needs, prompting them to take up waste paper collection.
Notably, their physical and mental health exhibited significant challenges, with 32.7% describing themselves as “unhealthy,” a rate more than twice that of the general elderly population (14.7%).
A majority of elderly collectors faced hardships such as inadequate meals. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Bae Jae-yoon, an associate researcher at the Korea Labor Force Development Institute for the Aged, who led the study, noted that many respondents considered waste paper collection a burdensome job they would like to quit immediately.
A majority of elderly collectors faced hardships such as inadequate meals, with some unable to afford even a basic daily meal despite working all day.
Highlighting the absence of a comprehensive public old-age income security system, Bae emphasized that individuals who haven’t adequately prepared for their old age or suddenly incur large expenses might find themselves compelled to become waste paper collectors.
Looking ahead, the Ministry of Health and Welfare plans to conduct another nationwide survey of waste paper collectors starting in January, aiming to involve them in the senior job program. This government-funded initiative offers monthly payments ranging from 290,000 to 760,000 won (2024 rates), depending on the nature of the job. While 79% of waste paper collectors are aware of the senior job program, only a mere 9% have actively participated.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
