Number of senior citizens reaches 1 million in Seoul

By Kwon Mee-yoo

Korea is rapidly becoming an aged society even in urban centers. The fast graying population was previously a major problem in mainly rural areas, but cities are also facing a similar situation.

As of June, there were 966,441 senior citizens over 65 living in Seoul, accounting for 9 percent of the capital’s total population of 10.4 million. The figure represents an increase of 23,500 in the first half.

At this rate, the “silver generation” is expected to exceed 1 million next year. About one fifth of the seniors live alone and half of them struggle with poverty ㅡ more than 32,000 elderly people are entitled to the government’s livelihood subsidy.

Seoul City is trying to cope with the fast aging society by increasing senior welfare assistance.

For instance, the municipal government is encouraging the employment of senior citizens. The city provides aid of up to 100 million won to firms with more than 80 percent of over 60-year-old employees in “silver enterprises.”

Last year, nine companies were designated for their silver employment projects, providing jobs for 110 senior citizens.

“This is a new alternative for senior employment and we will raise the target to attract more companies,” said Kim Myung-yong, a senior Seoul City official. The concentration of the population is another problem.

According to the Statistics Korea, Seoul’s population density was 16,586 people per square kilometer, about four times than that of Busan with 4,497 per square kilometer, which placed second.

Seoul’s density has increased since 2006, while all other cities and provinces showed a drop. The capital occupies only 0.6 percent of the nation’s territory, but some 20 percent of the population. Seoul’s density of population is eight times that of New York and three times that of Tokyo.