Health experts and policymakers are increasingly calling for an adjustment to the official age classification of “elderly.” (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 19 (Korea Bizwire) — As South Korea enters a super-aged society, health experts and policymakers are increasingly calling for an adjustment to the official age classification of “elderly,” citing evidence that older adults are maintaining good physical function well into their 70s.
At a policy forum hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Seoul on Monday, Professor Lee Yoon-hwan of the Aju University Medical Center’s Center for Geriatric Health presented findings showing that, from a medical standpoint, today’s 70-year-olds are as healthy as 65-year-olds were in the past. “In terms of healthy aging, age 70 today mirrors the physical condition of age 65 in previous generations,” Lee said.
His analysis, based on data from 2011 to 2023, showed a notable decrease in severe physical disability rates among seniors. The disability rate for those aged 65 to 69 dropped from 4.2% to 2.4%, while rates for those aged 70 to 74 fell from 4.9% to 4.4%. Furthermore, a comprehensive index measuring healthy aging increased by one point on average over the same period, suggesting that what was once the health profile of a 65-year-old in 2011 now aligns with that of a 72-year-old in 2023.
Lee also pointed out that the first wave of baby boomers — those born between 1955 and 1964 — have fewer chronic diseases and lower medical expenses compared to the older industrialization-era generation. Additionally, South Korea’s healthy life expectancy stood at 72.5 years in 2020, and the average age that seniors themselves define as “elderly” has shifted to 71.6, according to a 2023 national survey.
Caution Amid Progress
However, Kwon Jung-hyun, a research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), urged caution. Presenting on policies to extend working lives for the elderly, he noted that health improvements vary significantly across socioeconomic groups. “There’s a clear disparity in health levels depending on socioeconomic status, and this heterogeneity within the elderly population must be considered in any adjustment to the official elderly age,” he said.
Kwon also stressed the need for proactive reemployment policies before raising the statutory retirement age and called for a review of the pension reduction system, which reduces pension payouts for seniors who continue to earn employment or business income. “This system runs counter to the shift in elderly age definitions and should either be abolished or significantly revised,” he suggested.
As South Korea grapples with one of the fastest-aging populations in the world, the debate over redefining what it means to be “elderly” is expected to intensify — with significant implications for labor policies, retirement systems, and healthcare planning.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
