As the population ages rapidly, individuals aged 65 and older are emerging as a key demographic in the credit card market. Recent data from KB Kookmin Card shows that the number of customers aged 65 and above has more than doubled over the past six years, with their spending increasing by over 140% during the same period.
On June 18, KB Kookmin Card analyzed personal credit and debit card usage data, revealing that the number of customers aged 65 and older rose by 102% in 2025 compared to 2019. In contrast, the growth rate for customers aged 50 and above was 46%.
The increase in spending among seniors was even more pronounced, with expenditures rising by 143% over six years, significantly outpacing the overall average increase of 34%. For customers aged 50 and above, the spending growth rate was 66%. Although seniors account for about 17% of the total customer base, their rate of spending growth was the highest among all age groups.
Senior spending remains predominantly offline. In the past year, customers aged 65 and older used 86% of their spending in offline transactions, which is 16 percentage points higher than the 70% offline spending rate for those under 65.
When examining spending by category, essential services dominated. Restaurants accounted for 38% of transactions, followed by hospitals and pharmacies at 25%, and coffee and dessert shops at 10%. In terms of spending, hospitals and pharmacies represented 38% of total expenditures, indicating that health-related spending is a significant component of senior consumption.
Changes in leisure spending have also been observed. In the past year, 48% of indoor park golf users were aged 60 and older. This suggests a shift among middle-aged and older adults from outdoor park golf to indoor leisure activities. The number of indoor park golf establishments increased by 94% from January 2025 to April 2026.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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