Centenarians surge 70%

By Yoon Ja-young

The number of Koreans aged 100 or older increased 72 percent over the past five years. Many of them cited a strict diet as the secret to their longevity as well as abstaining from drinking alcohol or smoking.

According to the survey on centenarians based on the 2015 Population and Housing Census, released Monday, there are 3,159 Koreans 100 years or older as of 2015. That is 1,835 more, or up 72.2 percent, from 2010.

The ratio of centenarians stood at 6.6 per 100,000 people, up from 3.8 in 2010. Among those surveyed in 2010, 16.6 percent have survived as of 2015.

Two out of three centenarians live in urban areas and 86.5 percent are female.

The data showed that 36.6 percent had worked in farming or fisheries in the past, while 5.8 percent worked in services and 3.4 percent had simple labor jobs before retiring.

Gyeonggi Province had the biggest number of centenarians at 692, followed by Seoul with 521. The ratio, however, was highest in Jeju Province ― 17.2 per 100,000. South Jeolla Province followed with 12.3 per 100,000.

When asked what they think contributed to their longevity, 39.4 percent picked a controlled diet, while 18.8 percent chose organized daily life and 14.4 percent cited optimistic attitudes.

They also abstained from alcohol and cigarettes ― 76.7 percent said they have never drank alcohol while 79 percent said they have never smoked cigarettes.

Their favorite diet was vegetables, picked by 53.6 percent of centenarians, meat at 45.1 percent and soy products like tofu at 30.1 percent.

When asked if they were happy with life, 34.4 percent said “yes,” while 46.6 percent said “so-so.” It contrasts with a survey of those aged 65 or older where only 21.8 percent said they were happy.

The ratio of those living with families totaled 44.6 percent, down 12.5 percentage points from 2010. Those living in nursing homes or nursing hospitals, meanwhile, increased from 19.2 percent five years ago to 43.1 percent.

The survey also included the centenarians’ cognitive functions. Seven out of 10 knew their own name and 42.6 percent their age while 28 percent could handle money calculations.

Seven out of 10 had chronic diseases. What they suffered most was dementia, with 39.9 percent suffering it, followed by hypertension at 28.6 percent and arthritis at 28 percent.

The ratio of those using glasses or other visual aids stood at 13.7 percent, while 10.3 percent used hearing aids and 29.1 relied on dentures.

When asked how they fund their living expenses including medical costs, 80.5 percent said relatives and 60.4 percent received support from the government.