Elderly Person Loudly Talking on Phone in Library Leads to Dispute... "Spread of Ageism"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Hyung-gil] College student Jo (25) got into an argument with an elderly man while studying at a nearby municipal library during winter break. When an elderly man’s phone ringtone went off in the reading room and he started talking loudly on the phone, Jo politely asked him to keep it down. The elderly man responded, "Young people shouldn’t behave like that," and the situation escalated into a fight. As a result, Jo had no choice but to use coffee shops or study cafes instead of the library.

As society rapidly ages, the issue of ageism fueled by negative prejudices against the elderly is spreading in South Korea.

Intergenerational conflict is a natural phenomenon in any society, but the problem arises when economic and social tensions between generations intensify, leading to ageism.

According to the 2018 Comprehensive Report on the Elderly conducted by the National Human Rights Commission, 80% of young people hold negative prejudices against the elderly.

On the 18th, the Korea Insurance Research Institute reported that in a perception survey on the elderly conducted by the Korea Senior Citizens Association, 71.7% and 63.7% of respondents agreed with the statements "Elderly people nag others a lot" and "Elderly people try to assert authority based on age, experience, or position rather than ability," respectively.

The institute analyzed, "There is a high level of prejudice against authoritarian attitudes disconnected from actual ability," raising concerns about the problem of ageism.

It further explained, "The issue of ageism is also related to changes in intergenerational perceptions and structural social factors."

It pointed out that in the late 20th century, industrialization and urbanization led to the collapse of the traditional extended family support system for elderly parents due to nuclear family formation. This eliminated opportunities for communication between generations, deepening value conflicts between the elderly, who emphasize community, and the younger generation, who prefer individualism.

Additionally, the sharp increase in the elderly population has increased the economic burden on younger generations. Statistics Korea projects that the old-age dependency ratio in South Korea will rise from 20.4 in 2019 to 102.4 in 2067.

The institute suggested, "The social impact of aging should be recognized not as a crisis but as a change, and efforts to reduce the gap between generations and foster mutual understanding are necessary to advance society."

It added that South Korea should refer to Japan’s example to alleviate the burden of supporting the elderly population on young people and improve negative perceptions of the elderly.

Japan revised its Elderly Employment Stabilization Law to require companies to guarantee employment stability for workers up to age 65.

The institute explained, "By ensuring employment stability for the elderly, the government can collect more taxes and social security contributions from them, thereby easing some of the fiscal burdens on government finances."