Age shall not wither them
Senior reporters getting back together. From left, Kim Jae-bong, Shin Jong-su, Jeong Gyu-ung, Han Gyu-nam, Kim Seong-ho and Gwak Tae-hyung. By Cho Mun-gyu
From a 71-year-old who recently made her debut as a singer to a 75-year-old trainer at a gym, senior citizens are making the most of their golden years.
Aging to these people does not mean getting upset at advancing crow’s feet around their eyes or anxiously ticking off the remaining years. It means getting wiser and knowing how to make your dreams come true.
A group of retired reporters from the JoongAng Ilbo and the Tongyang Broadcasting Company tracked down this remarkable group. The JoongAng Ilbo, the mother publication of the JoongAng Daily, planned a homecoming special for its retired reporting crew. These former journalists, mostly in their 60s and 70s, were more than happy to reignite their careers after, in some cases, a relatively long hiatus. Some had been writers and editors for several decades.
Aging is a hot topic these days because of the pace at which Korea is becoming an aged society. According to the National Statistical Office, 9.9 percent of the total population is aged over 65 as of this January. A society is defined as “aged” when more than 7 percent of the population is older than 65, according to United Nations. Many Koreans have voiced concerns about this escalating problem, but the retired reporters and their interviewees voiced sentiments to the contrary. They feel that aging can be a blessing.
Like these senior citizens, let’s get ready to enjoy receding hairlines and graying tops. Wrinkles are beautiful and life is too short to worry.
By Chun Su jin [sujiney@joongang.co.kr]
with the Korea JoongAng Daily
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