[New Korean Dream④] Aging Begins Among Foreign Residents in Seoul Too

Over 30% of the Population Aged 50-60
Increase in Long-term Residents of Over 5 Years
Concentrated in Guro, Yeongdeungpo, and Geumcheon

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] A survey has revealed that the age group of foreign residents in Seoul is higher compared to other regions nationwide, indicating the beginning of an 'aging phenomenon.' As the proportion of the 50s and 60s generation exceeds 30%, there are calls for policy support addressing the aging of foreign residents. 'New Korean Dream'

Seoul Foreign Residents in Their 50s and 60s Exceed 30%... Increase in Long-Term Residents Over 5 Years

According to the data titled 'Comprehensive Aging Preparedness Support and Policy Demand-Based Support Directions for Foreign Residents,' published by the Seoul Institute on the 17th, the proportion of foreign residents in their 50s in Seoul was 20.0%, and those in their 60s accounted for 13.1%.

The report predicted that since the rate of foreign residents staying in Seoul for more than five years is high, the number of those spending their old age domestically will also increase in the future.

In fact, looking at the length of stay of foreign residents in Seoul, those staying between 5 and less than 10 years accounted for 23.6%, higher than the national average of 20.5%, and those staying over 10 years were 14.5%, also higher than the national average of 11.9%. Northeast Asian nationals, including Korean-Chinese, Chinese, and Japanese, make up 72.9%, more than two-thirds, and the female ratio is higher than that of males.

Need to Establish 'Public Social Safety Net' Due to Aging... Urgent to Develop Region-Specific Policies

Experts also advise the necessity of diagnosing and addressing medical expenses and Seoul’s public social safety net in response to long-term residence and aging.

Professor Song Jaeryong of Kyung Hee University’s Department of Sociology stated, "Foreign residents should be regarded as members of society, and related policies should be created at the central government and local government levels." He added, "Especially, social safety net policies related to seniors aged 65 and older should be implemented without discrimination." Regarding the utilization of foreign labor, he noted, "Legal and institutional changes, along with cultural and emotional consensus, must come first," suggesting current limitations at this point.

Furthermore, there is an opinion that it is necessary to understand the importance of region-specific policy demands and foreign resident policies. Areas with a high concentration of foreign residents in Seoul were identified as Guro, Yeongdeungpo, and Geumcheon districts, known as the 'Southwest 2 Living Zone.' In particular, Guro and Yeongdeungpo districts each have over 50,000 foreign residents, and Geumcheon district has over 30,000, indicating a very high concentration of foreign residents.

Regarding this, the report analyzed, "Seoul, as the capital region and a metropolitan city, has autonomous districts where more than 10% of the population consists of foreign residents, increasing the importance of more specialized policy demands and foreign resident policies at the local level."