[Opinion] 60Plus Is Both a Problem and a Solution in Our Society

8 Million Healthy People Aged 60 and Over
Valued as Precious Social Assets
Social Jobs Are a Timely Mission

It is common to cite trust as the most important social capital. Trust is the soft infrastructure that creates healthy and sound communities, resolves numerous social conflicts, and achieves social integration. Korean society also possesses another valuable social capital: a healthy 60-plus generation. The term 60-plus refers to elderly people aged 60 and above.

As of 2023, the 60-plus population in South Korea is approximately 13.91 million. The 60-plus share common traits. They experienced extreme poverty in their childhood, and through a fierce life, they have ingrained passion, challenge, perseverance, tenacity, experience, and problem-solving skills. Although they are older, they remain healthy, and more than 8 million, or 60% of the 60-plus, yearn to work more. They spend their days feeling regretful because they want to work more but lack suitable job opportunities.

This is a serious issue both at the individual and societal levels. In a 100-year lifespan, spending about 40 years in the latter half of life without work or meaningful activities is problematic. The same applies at the societal level. If we leave the 8 million healthy and work-ready 60-plus individuals unattended, the social system will collapse.

Everyone knows what the problem is, yet our society responds too passively to this critical challenge. It should not be viewed solely as an issue for the 60-plus individuals. The 60-plus are connected to all of us as family members of our citizens. It must be seen as a serious problem that the entire society must solve together, approached with a long-term perspective and seriousness. Let us tackle it with a sense of mission and a clear goal to resolve it.

What should be done? If we only change our perspective, the solution might be surprisingly easy to find. Instead of being fixated on the shortcomings of the 60-plus, we should utilize their strengths. Rather than seeing the 60-plus as a debt to be supported or a group to be rescued, we should view them as independent agents and resources capable of contributing. We should actively discover various activities where healthy elderly who want to work can contribute to society and provide them with opportunities to work. There are plenty of 60-plus individuals willing to work and contribute even for modest pay.

Generally, jobs are created by private companies. That is the natural principle of a capitalist economy. However, considering the current era's changes, there is an urgent need to increase socially oriented jobs with a public character. Examples include caregiving jobs, child-rearing support jobs, safety guardian jobs, environmental guardian jobs, and mental health guardian jobs.

With a long-term view, let us create a mid- to long-term future vision and strategy for socially demanded jobs and consistently pursue them for 20 or 30 years. Among social jobs, those suitable for the 60-plus should be entrusted to them. If such efforts continue relentlessly, 60-plus individuals can live happily while engaging in more meaningful activities, and at the national level, valuable social capital that has been buried can be effectively utilized.

In the future, most of the 50 million citizens will live a 100-year life and become 60-plus. Elderly people are no longer a burden. The more than 8 million healthy 60-plus individuals eager to work are a proud social asset of South Korea. Let us persistently create social jobs where healthy 60-plus can actively contribute to society and support their livelihoods. With policy will and trust, this is entirely possible.

Kim Hyun-gon, Director of the National Assembly Future Institute