[Senior Trend] What Is Age?

Expectations for Seniors
Achievements Seniors Should Accomplish

Recently, there has been an unusual surge of programs and projects related to seniors. It is a flood of events. Sometimes the projects are designed for seniors, and sometimes seniors take the lead themselves. For a field to grow, quantity must increase and quality must follow, and it seems that the foundation for this is being laid. Even the veterans who have been in the senior field for a long time say they feel a sense of generational change these days, so it doesn’t seem like empty talk. There were also some fresh projects that caught my eye, so I have selected a few impressive events from last month.

The most refreshing attempt was the lecture series titled “Age, Age, Age - Age, Generation, Era” held at Doosan Art Center. It had a depth that set it apart from the usual similar events. It began by questioning what “age” is as aging leads to changes marked by balance and harmony as well as division and conflict. The explanation of the project’s intent was meticulous. “Age is a constant theme in a person’s life. At some times, we await aging, and at others, we want to escape it. Age is inevitably complex because it combines the objective measure of time with the subjective measure of experience. In this sense, ‘age’ connects to ‘aging’ and ‘generation,’ and expands to ‘population,’ ‘care,’ and ‘technology.’ Within this framework, ‘conflict’ and ‘social issues’ inevitably arise. Based on these keywords, we seek wisdom by reflecting on age. That wisdom includes people of different ages joining hands and embracing each year of a person’s life as a continuous breath.”

Personally, among the four lectures held so far, I resonated most with Professor Lee Cheol-hee of Seoul National University’s Economics Department, who spoke on “Socioeconomic Imbalances Caused by Population Changes: Prospects and Responses.” His intent aligned with mine. He provided reassurance through various statistics in areas where seniors often feel vague anxiety, and discussed policy efforts to increase female employment rates, education systems adapted to changes, and how to respond to the shocks caused by a declining youth population, all of which I found very agreeable. Separately, thanks in part to the venue being a performance hall, the inclusive considerations such as Korean subtitles, wheelchair seating, and text communication services stood out. I was also surprised by the enthusiastic participation of young people during the Q&A sessions.

The government is also active. First, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety launched a re-challenge project called “Open Again.” It operates vitality programs including middle-aged and older adults in 12 regions such as Pyeongchang, Jeju, and Cheongju. Previously focused on the younger generation, the target for regional activities has been expanded. The sessions introducing what preparations each region is making for youth and seniors were hopeful. Wanju was particularly interesting. The focus on Generation X middle-aged adults and the design of the return-to-farming and rural migration program in three stages?“Exploration Camp - Connection Experiment - Life Exploration”?to gradually adapt was notable. There was also Yeongdeok County Office with the catchy slogan “The Bold Challenges of Middle-aged People with Reason.” I am eager to visit the “Blue Road Expedition,” which promises the birth of a Korean-style walking course. Meanwhile, there was also a generational fusion attempt. At “Yeosuwa,” the 50-plus generation mentors local youth, and the youth serve as tour guides in the region. While there have been many regional exploration programs so far, few have featured symbiotic models between seniors and youth or distinctive courses beyond rural migration, so this was refreshing. How will seniors establish themselves in regions and connect with youth to become sources of vitality and growth in the future?

Meanwhile, in Hoengseong, a forum titled “Specialized Regeneration, Community, and Local” was held in connection with the declaration of “Geon (健) Middle-aged.” Geon Middle-aged refers to those aged 65 to 70 who are strong, healthy, and robust middle-aged adults. It was a practical declaration to recognize them not as care recipients but as resources and driving forces with rich networks and experience in the community, aiming to move forward. Linked with Gangwon Province’s long-standing tradition of the Hoedaji Sound Festival, the seniors’ determination was evident, addressing generational and regional issues.

There was also a book launch event titled “Republic of Korea, Next Level.” It was a declaration by elders from various fields to take on senior-appropriate roles. The subtitle was “The Nation’s Affairs Are a Concern.” It was a unique event seeking a future-oriented new Korean growth model suited to the challenging circumstances of the present era, especially exploring residential environments and national strategies where young people can safely have and raise children. On the other hand, the middle-aged forum co-hosted by Seeds and the Korea Ashoka Foundation looked back at the past. It focused intensively on how definitions, policies, perceptions, and grassroots movements regarding “middle-aged” and “senior” in Korea have evolved. The event emphasized that understanding history is essential to clarifying future directions. Meanwhile, under the banner of “Super-aged Society Design 2.0 Declaration,” the baby boomer generation took the lead, sharing various reflections and encouraging themselves to become “change makers” in the super-aged society by utilizing their experience and wisdom.

The noticeable increase in generational integration movements and practical declarations by the senior generation is positive. I hope that future events and declarations will not end with grand statements but will be accompanied by concrete actions involving continuous activities and contributions, producing real results.

Lee Boram, CEO of Third Age

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