[Future Wave] The ‘Super-Aging of the Elderly’ Society: Urgent Need for Community Care

Over 1.1 Million Super-Aged Over 85
Urgent Need to Advance Medical and Caregiving Infrastructure
"Nono-Care" Gains Attention as an Alternative

On December 23rd last year, the population aged 65 and over in South Korea surpassed 20% of the total population. This means that one in five people is elderly, and 2025 will mark the first year of a super-aged society. Among the unprecedented reality of entering a super-aged society, one of the issues we tend to overlook is the phenomenon of the ‘super-aging of the elderly.’ This refers not only to the increase in the number of elderly people but also to the growing number of very old individuals within the elderly population.

Generally, people over the age of 85 are referred to as ‘super-aged’ (超高齡者). In particular, medical and welfare services often classify those aged 85 and above separately to provide tailored support and programs. This is because the physical and mental decline due to aging can be more pronounced in this age group compared to the general elderly population.

As of December 2024, the super-aged population aged 85 and over in South Korea is approximately 1,103,000, accounting for about 10.75% of the total elderly population. This figure has increased by more than 200% compared to 2010 (366,600 people). If this trend continues, it is predicted that by 2050, the super-aged population aged 85 and over will reach 4.28 million. This corresponds to 9% of South Korea’s total population (47.11 million) in 2050.

The rapid progression of the ‘super-aging of the elderly’ suggests that our society must go beyond simply supporting the elderly and establish medical and welfare policies and customized services specialized for the super-aged group. In particular, the increase in the super-aged population can trigger a sharp rise in various social costs, including medical expenses, demand for long-term care and caregiving services, and use of welfare facilities. Therefore, it is crucial for both the government and the private sector to develop efficient and sustainable measures together.

Above all, the most urgent task is the expansion and advancement of medical and caregiving infrastructure. As age increases, not only physical function declines but also the risk of geriatric diseases such as dementia rises. It is difficult to comprehensively support these individuals with the existing hospital-centered treatment system alone. This is why a ‘community care’ system, where medical, nursing, and welfare services can be integrated and accessed within local communities close to the living environment, must be established.

The importance of community care lies in the fact that it is socially and economically burdensome for families or the public sector alone to take full responsibility for all caregiving. At this point, ‘Nono (老老)-Care’ (a caregiving model where elderly people care for other elderly people) is gaining attention as an alternative. Nono-Care is a model in which relatively active ‘early elderly’ provide daily living support services to the more physically and mentally vulnerable super-aged elderly. For example, they perform relatively light caregiving tasks such as meal preparation, simple household chores, companionship, and assistance with outings.

In this process, the elderly caregivers gain a sense of self-efficacy and social connection, while the super-aged recipients receive more comfortable and intimate support. The shared empathy unique to the same generation can also greatly help alleviate feelings of isolation. Of course, Nono-Care is not a universal solution that can solve all medical and caregiving issues of the super-aged. In cases requiring highly specialized medical services or intensive care for patients with severe disabilities or dementia, professional personnel and facilities remain essential.

The year 2025, the ‘first year of the super-aged society,’ is a reality that has already been anticipated, but the fact that the age structure is shifting toward the 85 and older elderly population is a significant concern. However, the increase in the super-aged population could also be a new opportunity for our society to flexibly and creatively redefine the subjects and methods of caregiving. If the active participation and mutual aid of elderly individuals are promoted, and cooperation among the government, private sector, and local communities is achieved, the medical and caregiving system for the super-aged will become more comprehensive and sustainable.

Seoyongseok, Professor at KAIST Graduate School of Future Strategy