By Kim Se-jeong
Korea is an aging society. Almost a quarter of its eligible voters are 60 or older. They are vulnerable because of deteriorating health and social support that falls short of their needs.
All five major presidential candidates offered generous welfare packages targeting the elderly population.
The most controversial issue is the amount of basic pension given to those 65 years or older. Currently, it's 206,050 won per month and anyone whose income is not in the top 30 percent is eligible.
Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party promised to provide all people in the age bracket with 300,000 won per month, the most generous pledge.
Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea who enjoys a lead in the race and Hong Joon-Pyo of the Liberty Korea Party made the same promise: increasing the amount to 300,000 won per month, while keeping eligibility the same.
Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party also promised to raise the amount to 300,000 won only for those whose income level is in the lowest 50 percent. Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party promised an increase but didn't give a number.
Many in this group suffer from poverty — Korea's elderly poverty rate is the highest among the 35-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Many are forced to work to make ends meet, but decent-paying jobs are hard to find. The elderly suicide rate is also the highest in the OECD.
All candidates recognized the importance of job opportunities.
Moon vowed to create 800,000 jobs specifically for them, while Ahn promised 250,000. Other candidates promised job training and other measures but failed to give details.
All five promised accommodation support so the elderly can stay together and have access to necessary services.
The elderly are also hurt by high medical costs. The aggregated annual expenditure for those older than 65 years was 39 trillion won in 2016, and the figure, according to experts, is expected to be over 100 trillion won by 2024. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common diseases for them.
Moon promised to cover 90 percent of the cost related to Alzheimer's disease. He also vowed to open medical care facilities specialized in the disease and other support centers that would help treat it.
Ahn and Hong also promised to provide more medical facilities for Alzheimer's patients but with little details. Yoo said he would found a new government body tasked with taking care of them.
Moon and Ahn also promised an increase in insurance coverage for dentures, hearing aids and dental implants — currently, patients bear half the cost.
The promises were welcomed in general but experts said they wouldn't be realistic unless the candidates come up with detailed plans to pay for them.
Korea is an aging society. Almost a quarter of its eligible voters are 60 or older. They are vulnerable because of deteriorating health and social support that falls short of their needs.
All five major presidential candidates offered generous welfare packages targeting the elderly population.
The most controversial issue is the amount of basic pension given to those 65 years or older. Currently, it's 206,050 won per month and anyone whose income is not in the top 30 percent is eligible.
Sim Sang-jung of the Justice Party promised to provide all people in the age bracket with 300,000 won per month, the most generous pledge.
Moon Jae-in of the Democratic Party of Korea who enjoys a lead in the race and Hong Joon-Pyo of the Liberty Korea Party made the same promise: increasing the amount to 300,000 won per month, while keeping eligibility the same.
Ahn Cheol-soo of the People's Party also promised to raise the amount to 300,000 won only for those whose income level is in the lowest 50 percent. Yoo Seong-min of the Bareun Party promised an increase but didn't give a number.
Many in this group suffer from poverty — Korea's elderly poverty rate is the highest among the 35-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
Many are forced to work to make ends meet, but decent-paying jobs are hard to find. The elderly suicide rate is also the highest in the OECD.
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All candidates recognized the importance of job opportunities.
Moon vowed to create 800,000 jobs specifically for them, while Ahn promised 250,000. Other candidates promised job training and other measures but failed to give details.
All five promised accommodation support so the elderly can stay together and have access to necessary services.
The elderly are also hurt by high medical costs. The aggregated annual expenditure for those older than 65 years was 39 trillion won in 2016, and the figure, according to experts, is expected to be over 100 trillion won by 2024. Alzheimer's disease is one of the most common diseases for them.
Moon promised to cover 90 percent of the cost related to Alzheimer's disease. He also vowed to open medical care facilities specialized in the disease and other support centers that would help treat it.
Ahn and Hong also promised to provide more medical facilities for Alzheimer's patients but with little details. Yoo said he would found a new government body tasked with taking care of them.
Moon and Ahn also promised an increase in insurance coverage for dentures, hearing aids and dental implants — currently, patients bear half the cost.
The promises were welcomed in general but experts said they wouldn't be realistic unless the candidates come up with detailed plans to pay for them.
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