Aging South Koreans cited economic difficulty and health as their biggest concerns, but the weight of their worries varied according to their education levels, a report showed Monday.
In a survey of 60-year-olds by Statistics Korea, 43.2 percent
of the respondents with elementary education picked economic
difficulty as their top concern. Health closely followed at 40.5
percent, while unemployment and loneliness each stood at 4.7
percent and 4.3 percent.
In contrast, 40.5 percent of the respondents with college
education said health was their biggest worry. Economic difficulty
was cited as a less serious problem at 25.3 percent, according to
the report.
A total of 8.1 percent of the respondents also picked weakening
respect for the elderly, reflecting their concerns over a fading
Confucianism culture in modern-day Korea.
Meanwhile, the report raised concerns on preparations for
elderly life.
A total of 80.5 percent of respondents with college education
said they have been preparing for elderly life, while the figure
came in at 38.6 percent for those with elementary education.
Only 7.8 percent of the latter said they plan to prepare, while
58.5 percent said they don't have the ability and 28.7 percent said
they plan to depend on their children.
South Korea is one of the world's fastest aging countries, with
the country's graying labor force and low birthrate feared to hurt
long-term growth potential. (Yonhap News)
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