Yoon unveils measures to help older people as society ages

Politics

Published: 21 Mar. 2024, 18:15

Yoon unveils measures to help older people as society ages

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, shakes hands with an elderly during a public livelihood debate held at the headquarters of the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service in Wonju, Gangwon, Thursday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday rolled out comprehensive measures for older people, including increasing the housing supply and enhancing nursing care, as the country rapidly becomes an aging society.

"Korea is aging more rapidly than any other country," Yoon said during the twenty-second town hall discussion on public livelihood issues held at the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service headquarters in Wonju, Gangwon.

"We need comprehensive measures to support the daily lives, medical treatment and care for the elderly."

The president noted that the number of elderly individuals aged 65 or above reached 9.8 million in Korea as of February, with the number expected to rise to nearly 13 million by 2030, or 25 percent of the predicted population.

According to Yoon, the government plans to boost the number of so-called silver towns, which are private residential complexes for older people.

It will also reintroduce the silver town pre-sales, which were abolished in 2015 after some designated land was illegally sold to individuals.

Qualifications to live in silver towns will be eased to allow anyone 60 or above to reside in the facilities. Previously, the complexes limited occupancy to older adults who could "live independently.".

Additionally, the annual supply of public rental housing units for older people will be tripled from 1,000 to 3,000.

Yoon emphasized the importance of implementing a nursing care system that allows more doctors and nurses to provide treatment at home. The government plans to increase the number of medical facilities eligible for long-term at-home treatments from 95 to 250.

The government will also begin subsidizing nursing care costs for those hospitalized at care facilities starting in April, as Yoon previously pledged during his election campaign. He also announced plans to introduce new care facilities, known as "unit care," which will feature community centers with shared spaces and individual rooms, allowing senior adults to socialize individually and as a group.

Yoon added that the government will help seniors adapt to the increasingly digitalized society by offering training on digital devices, including smartphones and kiosk machines.

Meanwhile, Yoon appointed Joo Ki-hwan, a prosecutor-turned-politician, as the special adviser for people's livelihood on the same day. The appointment came three days after Joo withdrew his candidacy for a proportional representative seat for the People Future Party in the upcoming April 10 general election. The People Future Party is a satellite party of the conservative People Power Party.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [cho.jungwoo1@joongang.co.kr]