Over a tenth of S. Koreans aged 65 or older: report

SEOUL, Sept. 30 (Yonhap) -- More than one out of 10 South Koreans were aged 65 or
older last year, a report showed Wednesday, pointing to the country's rapid
transition towards an aged society.
According to the report by the National Statistical Office (NSO), 5.19 million
people here were aged 65 or older as of July last year, accounting for 10.7
percent of the nation's population of 49 million. The corresponding figure in
1999 was 6.9 percent, the office said.
An aged society refers to a country in which more than 14 percent of the
population is 65 or older. South Korea became an aging society in 2000 when the
ratio exceeded 7 percent and it is expected to become an aged society in 2018,
the office said.
An aging population raises concerns over how to cope with increasing health care
and welfare expenses and challenges in sustaining the nation's economic growth.
The report showed that medical expenses for the age group amounted to 10.49
trillion won (US$8.82 billion) in 2008, up 15.5 percent from two years earlier.
Among senior citizens, the No. 1 cause of death was cancer. Illnesses related to
the brain came next, followed by heart disease, the report showed.
Participation by older people in economic activities, however, inched down. In
2008, 30.6 percent of people aged 65 or older joined in economic activities, down
from 31.3 percent a year earlier, according to the report.
Of the total, 57.6 percent said they hope to land a job, citing income levels as
the most important factor in selecting a company, the report showed.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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