Elderly people rest at Tapgol Park in Jongno District, Seoul. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, Sept. 17 (Korea Bizwire) — South Koreans are experiencing relatively high levels of anxiety about aging, particularly over declining health and financial insecurity, with younger adults reporting greater unease than their elders, according to new research released Tuesday.
The Hanyang University Institute on Aging surveyed 4,254 adults nationwide last year and developed what it called a “Korean Aging Anxiety Scale.” On a five-point measure, respondents averaged 3.23, a level researchers classified as “moderately high.”
Concerns over deteriorating health scored highest at 3.80, followed by fears of losing financial independence at 3.57. Worries about reduced mobility, death and grief, changing appearance, and social stigma around old age also ranked prominently. Feelings of social isolation and lack of leisure opportunities trailed slightly behind.
Strikingly, anxiety was strongest among people in their twenties and thirties, who registered an average score of 3.38 — higher than those in their forties and fifties (3.19) and even seniors aged 60 and older (3.12). Researchers attributed this to heightened uncertainty about the future and negative perceptions of aging among younger generations.
The findings also pointed to disparities by gender, income, and marital status. Women reported more anxiety than men, as did unmarried individuals compared with those who were married. Renters and people without access to public pensions expressed greater unease than homeowners and pension subscribers. Lower-income groups scored higher than wealthier cohorts.
“The aging population continues to grow while individuals face longer lifespans, but because the degree of anxiety has not been systematically measured, policies have often failed to resonate,” said Lee Sam-sik, head of the institute. He said the new index provides both policymakers and individuals with crucial data to better prepare for old age.
The study adds to mounting evidence of South Korea’s demographic challenges, where rapid aging, shrinking fertility and limited retirement security are colliding, leaving younger generations burdened by fears not only about their present but about how they will age.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
