KoreaToday Don’t Stop Working for Happy Retired Life
By Park Si-soo
Staff Reporter
Korea is fast aging. The government forecasts senior citizens aged over 65 will account for 20 percent of the total population by 2020, thanks to improving healthcare, food and nutrition services. A latest government report says the average life span of Koreans would reach 80 this year, surpassing the OECD average of 79.2, for the first time.
Despite escalating life span, however, the age for retirement is getting lower rather than higher. Most white and blue-collar workers alike, except for a few select figures, are forced to down their tools when they reach around the age of 50.
If so, what should they do for the next 30 years or more?
Retirees with ample money spend time playing golf, climbing or traveling around the world, keeping themselves away from being involved in social and productive affairs.
A retired life management expert equipped with a challenging mindset claims ``It is a waste of time and energy.''
``Retirement is another name for reemployment and a new start of life,'' said Juch Myong-yong, president of the Korean Association of Retired Persons (KARP), in an interview with The Korea Times.
``To create an ideal, retired life, retirees should maintain their connection with society by any means, which means they shouldn't stop working,'' Juch said. ``The most ideal and desirable way of life for the retired is a balance between work and leisure. Social inclusion helps retirees keep their physical and mental health strong and contribute to social development by handing over their long-accumulated skills and knowledge.''
In the past, retired people used to spend their rest of life doing almost nothing. Fortunately, in recent years, a growing number of retirees prepare better for post-retirement life, KARP head said.
To meet growing demand on new jobs, KARP provides retirees looking for a ``new start'' with recruiting information suitable for senior citizens and job training programs designed for those reluctant to venture out.
The 62-year-old, who established KARP in 2002, was once a promising businessman in New York City. He emigrated to the U.S. in 1981 after quitting what was then one of the most decent jobs ― flight attendant.
``At the height of my business, I owned four McDonald's stores in Manhattan, which generated about one million dollars a year in net profit. Then I had nothing to envy,'' he said.
His new office in southern Seoul is covered with dozens of news articles, now turned yellowish, published by American media outlets including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, dealing with his success story as an immigrant. He served as president of the Korean American Association of Greater New York, a position proving his success in the community.
Juch decided to set up KARP after watching TV programs which described heart-wrenching stories about numerous laid-off workers in Korea in the wake of the Asian financial crisis in 1997.
``It was a great turning point in my life,'' he said. ``The TV programs inspired me to propel social campaigns designed to support aged and retired people for the rest of my life.''
When he revealed his attention to quit his money-making business to launch KARP in Seoul, McDonald's headquarters, which had believed his retirement was driven by business-related complaints, offered him control of 17 McDonald's stores in Georgia State.
``It was a great opportunity. But it fell short of abandoning my long cherished plan of establishing the non-profit organization,'' he said. He returned to Korea in December 2001, leaving his family behind in the U.S.
The masters degree holder in business stressed the government-led welfare policy has its own limitations.
``The government should form strategic partnerships with private companies and NGOs to come up with solutions on how to utilize retired people for the sake of social development,'' he stressed.
``Under the Roh Moo-hyun administration, which prioritized government-led welfare policy, low-paying and unpopular jobs such as janitor, door-to-door deliveryman, and street cleaners were major occupations offered to retired people. Such positions are mostly inferior to applicants' prior jobs in payment and other working conditions, resulting in a cooling down of the applicants' zeal for a new start.''
Juch spoke highly of Lee Myung-bak administration's move of using private firms to create new jobs, however, he blamed the government for propelling the plan sluggishly.
``At the inception of the administration, it seemed to push the plan ahead aggressively. But now, it treats the matter the same as the previous administration,'' he said.
He said he would take a wait-and-see attitude until the government shows any sign of change on the scheme.
``I want to work as long as I am capable,'' the 20-year-experience businessman said. ``It is because I still have so many things to do.'' He said smiling.