Alarm grows over rise in violent crime among Korea’s struggling elderly

A police line is set up outside the residence of a man in his 60s who fatally shot his son with a homemade firearm in Incheon, July 21. Yonhap

A recent wave of violent crimes committed by Koreans over 60 — including cases of arson and shootings with homemade firearms — has raised alarms about the deepening social and economic strains facing the country’s aging population.

In a country where elderly suicide and poverty rates are among the highest in the world, the incidents have intensified concerns over whether Korea’s social safety nets are adequate to support a rapidly aging population.

This month, a 62-year-old man, identified only by his surname Cho, shot and killed his son with a homemade gun during his birthday party in Incheon, in front of his daughter-in-law and grandchild. Police later found and dismantled a homemade explosive device at Cho’s home in Seoul. Investigators cited family conflict and financial troubles as possible motives.

In May, a 68-year-old man, identified only by his surname, Won, set fire to a Seoul Subway Line 5 train using paint thinner. No one was injured, but the incident came perilously close to ending in tragedy. Won later told reporters he had been distraught over his divorce settlement and had hoped to draw public attention to his grievances.

These cases reflect a broader trend, as the share of violent crimes committed by people aged 60 and older has surged in recent years.

Ministry of Justice data shows the number of inmates in that age group has more than doubled, rising from 3,324 in 2015 to 7,148 in 2024 — the largest increase among all age groups. Among the 3,083 people jailed for murder last year, 588 were seniors, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total.

Flames are seen erupting on Seoul Subway Line 5 in CCTV footage from the arson scene, May 31. Yonhap

Korea, with a population of approximately 51.67 million people, officially entered “super-aged” status last year when the number of people aged 65 and older surpassed 10 million. Experts assert that the escalating issue of violent crime among seniors can no longer be overlooked, as the trend underscores the profound social and economic vulnerabilities confronting one of the world’s most rapidly aging societies.

“The rise in elderly crime is partly because the population in that age group has grown significantly,” Bark Hyung-min, a senior research fellow at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, told The Korea Times. “Today’s seniors are also much healthier than in the past, which is why we’re seeing an increase in violent crimes that require physical capability.”

Bark noted that many people in their 60s remain as physically able as those in their 40s or 50s but often face forced retirement. He said this disconnect between their physical self-image and social role can breed feelings of isolation and resentment.

“If these issues remain unresolved, more violent crime could erupt anywhere, at any time,” he warned.

Korea has some of the highest rates of elderly poverty and suicide in the world, with both closely linked to mental health.

As of 2020, 40.4 percent of Koreans aged 65 and older had a relative income below 50 percent of the median — numbering nearly three times the OECD average. The suicide rate among that age group was 41.7 per 100,000, more than twice the OECD average.

Experts say seniors need more ways to stay active and connected.

“Whether it’s work or leisure, older adults need something to do within society,” Chung Soon-dool, a professor at Ewha Womans University’s Graduate School of Social Welfare, told The Korea Times. “They have the energy, but few chances to use it. Society must offer meaningful outlets for that energy.”