Can you believe the fact that one of two old people are living a life of poverty? Surprisingly, the poverty percentage among the elderly in Korea is about 49.2%. Although the standard of poverty is subjective, this percentage records first place among OECD countries. As such, as the poverty percentage is increasing, Koreans’ acknowledgment and national polices for old people are marching in to place. During the election time, “increase in taxation” had become a controversial topic. Still, many Koreans refuse to increase taxation, but they want an increase to the welfare that they receive. As former president Park Geun-hye failed, welfare without an increase in taxation causes friction. As such, negative reaction toward an increase in taxation and inappropriate policies for old people caused the high percentage of elderly poverty experienced nowadays. The spread of this phenomenon finally caused a record first place of suicide rates for the elderly. Is it really impossible to live happily in Korea as an old person?Between 55 years old and 60 years, many Koreans take regular retirement. That means that their regular earnings are discontinued. Most of their conditions worsen and they suffer from poverty. In this regard, unlike in other developed countries where superannuation schemes are managed well as a dimension of companies, Koreans are often not offered any retirement savings from their companies. Most Koreans cannot prepare for their retirement savings through retirement pensions or personal pensions while they earn money. The basic pension system, which is supported by the tax distribution system at the national level, allows for only two of five old people to receive economic support. To prevent the spread of this phenomenon, expansion of the basic pension system form of tax and stabilization of superannuation schemes are needed. Insufficient income might not be the only cause of this phenomenon. Service systems for old people in Korea are also deficient. There has been and increase in a small movement to expand the services for old people, but it is important that Koreans acknowledge how leisure services can increase their life quality. Social efforts for the elderly to participate in more leisure and support activities is really needed. Also, Korean society only supports and intervenes for some specific extreme old abuse examples. However, intervening only in extreme situations cannot be the essential solution. Everyone becomes old at long last. Many changes are happening socially and economically. We can be placed in an extreme situation such as regular retirement or not being able to live without national support. However, in this regard, Korean systems for old people are too insufficient. The tasks for Korean government to solve might be the negative reaction toward the increase of taxes and the need for increased investment in programs for the elderly.
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