[LETTERS TO THE EDITOR]Aging Society a Welfare Strain

According to a census by the National Statistics Office the population of citizens over age 65 has increased radically over recent years, as the youth population has deceased.

Seniors make up more than 7.1 percent of the population of Korea. This could result in serious problems since wage earners are taxed to pay for the retirees' pensions.

To solve this problem seniors should be allowed to work even after they retire.

The mainstay of the social welfare system is health insurance and the national pension system. However, the health insurance scheme is ailing and many subscribers of the national pension plan do not pay premiums.

The government should take the steps required to alleviate the dire situation of the national social welfare programs, which would enhance their credibility.

In coping with the problems of our aging society, individual creativity should be guaranteed with minimum financial and social repercussions.

－ Hwang Jae-gwang

Songpa-gu, Seoul