As the population of seniors aged 65 and older surpasses 11 million this year, their attitudes and quality of life have significantly changed over the past decade. The perception that supporting elderly parents is solely a family responsibility has decreased, with a growing belief that families, the government, and society should share this responsibility. More seniors are also taking steps to secure their own living expenses and prepare for retirement.
According to the "2026 Elderly Statistics" released by the National Data Agency, 53.4% of seniors in 2024 believe that the responsibility for supporting elderly parents should be shared among families, the government, and society, an increase of 17.7 percentage points from ten years ago.
Attitudes toward household and work-life balance have also evolved. In 2024, 52.0% of seniors believed that couples should share household chores equally, up 16.7 percentage points from a decade earlier. Additionally, 49.0% of respondents in 2025 prioritized balancing work and family life, an increase of 8.1 percentage points over the same period.
Changes in health management are evident as well. In 2024, 29.7% of seniors reported feeling good about their health, an increase of 8.8 percentage points from ten years prior. The most common health management practice was eating breakfast, at 91.6%, followed by adequate sleep at 82.4% and regular exercise at 52.0%. Notably, the proportion of seniors engaging in regular exercise rose by 9.3 percentage points over the past decade.
In terms of economic independence, the percentage of seniors relying on themselves and their spouses for living expenses has increased. In 2024, 74.7% of seniors reported covering their own living costs, a rise of 16.2 percentage points from ten years ago. Conversely, only 13.1% relied on support from children or relatives, a decrease of 15.5 percentage points during the same period.
Satisfaction with income and spending has also improved. In 2025, 21.3% of seniors expressed satisfaction with their income, while 17.9% were satisfied with their spending, marking increases of 13.7 and 8.1 percentage points, respectively, over the past decade.
More seniors are preparing for retirement as well. In 2025, 64.4% reported taking steps to prepare for retirement, an increase of 17.5 percentage points from ten years ago. The most common method of preparation was through the National Pension, utilized by 53.2% of seniors, followed by savings accounts at 20.1% and occupational pensions at 10.2%. The use of the National Pension has increased by 24.5 percentage points over the past decade, while reliance on savings accounts has decreased by 8.8 percentage points.
However, the number of seniors who feel they have someone to rely on for help has slightly declined. In 2025, 72.5% of seniors reported having someone to ask for help with household chores when they are unwell, and 71.3% said they have someone to turn to when feeling depressed, both down by 1.4 and 1.3 percentage points, respectively, from ten years ago.
Attitudes toward funeral practices have also shifted. In 2025, 87.5% of seniors preferred cremation, an increase of 19.0 percentage points from a decade ago, while the preference for burial dropped to 11.7%, a decrease of 16.9 percentage points.
Current trends in the elderly population's health and economic conditions highlight these changes. In 2024, the life expectancy for those aged 65 was 21.7 years, with men expected to live 19.5 years and women 23.7 years. The average medical expenses per senior aged 65 and older were 5.376 million won, an increase of 70,000 won from the previous year.
In terms of income security, the pension coverage rate for seniors aged 65 and older was 91.2% in 2024, but the average monthly pension amount was only 737,000 won. The relative poverty rate for those aged 66 and older remains high at 37.7%.
Changes in living conditions for seniors are also notable. In 2025, 79.2% of seniors aged 65 and older reported using the internet, and 96.0% used instant messaging services. However, seniors aged 65 and older accounted for 33.1% of fatalities from accidents involving elderly drivers, an increase of 2.9 percentage points from the previous year.
Subjective life satisfaction among seniors presents mixed results. In 2025, 33.7% of seniors aged 65 and older reported being satisfied with their current lives, a decrease of 1.8 percentage points from the previous year. Conversely, 29.0% expressed satisfaction with their socio-economic achievements, an increase of 4.2 percentage points from the previous year.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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