Korea’s Aging Society

[Anchor Lead]

Korea's population aged 65 and older has surpassed the 15 and under demographic in number for the first time ever. South Korea is very close to entering a fully-fledged aged society. Here’s our report.

[Pkg]

Over 200 senior citizens gathered here raise their voices to sing a song. The venue, which brings to mind an enthusiastic concert, is a seniors-exclusive "song theater."

[Soundbite] Han Mi-ja(88) : "Here they play songs favored by seniors, so anyone can sing along. We get so excited that we end up dancing."

A special street has also been developed to cater to the taste and needs of the elderly. This coffee shop, resembling a music cafe of a bygone era, is a cultural space exclusively serving older customers.

[Soundbite] Gang Jeong-sun(74) : "We can chat comfortably. We're also familiar with the old music. It's very nice."

Last month, the percentage of Korea's population aged 65 and older shot up to 13 and a half percent. The figure is approaching 14 percent, the point at which a country is officially deemed an aged society. A phenomenon called the "demographic cliff," in which a drop in working age population sharply discourages output and spending, is becoming a reality for Korea.

[Soundbite] Prof. Bae Gwi-hee(Soongsil University) : "I believe it's necessary to completely revamp the systems of Korean society across the board, including issues pertaining to jobs and education."

Measures to slow down the rate at which society is aging and preparations for a fully aged society are urgently needed.