The Secret to a Healthy 100 Years... 9 Essential Conditions for 'Baekse-in'

Professor Kim Jong-in of Wonkwang University, Analysis of 130 Centenarians
English Book 'Sociology of Longevity' Published

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-won] Professor Kim Jong-in, Emeritus Professor at Wonkwang University who has continued research on domestic 'Baekse-in' (centenarians), has published an English book titled The Sociology of Longevity: Socioecological Factors of Survival Probability, based on interviews with 130 individuals aged 100 to 180 and his previous research papers.

'Baekse-in' and 'Homo-hundred' are terms used to refer to people who live beyond 100 years. Among these, Homo-hundred is a compound term combining Homo, meaning human, and the number 100.

As of the end of August last year, there were 10,935 elderly people aged 100 or older living in South Korea. Considering the aging trend, it is expected that this number will exceed 20,000 around August this year.

According to The Sociology of Longevity published on the 21st, Professor Kim presented nine social indicators necessary to become a centenarian.

The first is lifelong 'personal hygiene management.' Centenarians continued to receive full-body bathing services from visiting care workers at least once a week even after becoming physically limited beyond 100 years old. Professor Kim analyzed that the cleanliness habits ingrained before becoming a centenarian continued after 100 years of age and were a major factor in longevity.

Professor Kim said, "In the case of a 107-year-old elderly person I met for the research, they never neglected washing throughout their life and changed their favorite hanbok at least twice a week," adding, "One of the important factors in surpassing 100 years is cleanliness."

The second essential factor for centenarians was 'safe drinking water.' Most centenarians did not drink tap water or beverages but mainly drank bottled water. Professor Kim noted, "It is interesting that while they drank tap and groundwater when young, they believed in drinking good water in old age," and analyzed, "Rather than the quality difference of water, avoiding processed drinks containing sugar and sodium and frequently drinking clean water can be interpreted as contributing to longevity."

Third, centenarians either did not experience gender discrimination when young or overcame it in their lives. Professor Kim explained, "Centenarians lived in patriarchal environments but shared household chores without distinguishing between men and women," adding, "Such gender equality increases women's mental health and economic participation, thereby increasing household income and long-term survival probability beyond 100 years."

Fourth, efforts to actively acquire necessary health information using the internet together with family were highlighted. Accordingly, Professor Kim emphasized the need for active communication using the internet even in old age.

The fifth factor was that centenarians actively tried to overcome illnesses, including undergoing surgery after age 80. Professor Kim said, "Centenarians consistently said that elderly people of similar age who gave up surgery all passed away," adding, "However, economic support was essential to receive such treatments."

Other major factors for centenarian longevity included the proportion of healthcare expenditure, mobile phone subscriptions, added value of labor, urbanization, and national income. Professor Kim explained, "Beyond individual factors, considering the synergy effect of nine variables, the probability of reaching 100 years was highest when mobile phone subscriptions, internet use, and healthcare expenditure were combined," and added, "From a national perspective, it is necessary to consider selective strategies based on socioecological indicators required for survival beyond 100 years."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.