Lee Jung-geun, President of the Korean Senior Citizens Association, "Let's Raise the Elderly Age to 75"

"To fundamentally manage the elderly population in Korea, which has become a super-aged society, I will propose to the government to raise the elderly age threshold."

Lee Jung-geun, Chairman of Booyoung Group, stated this on the 21st upon his inauguration as the 19th President of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, saying, "The elderly age should be gradually raised from 65 to 75 years old by one year annually to appropriately manage the number of elderly people."

On the 21st, the inauguration ceremony of Lee Jung-geun, the 19th president of the Korea Senior Citizens Association, was held at the International Conference Hall of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Photo by Kwon Hyun-ji

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At the inauguration ceremony held at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry International Conference Hall, he said, "If the government introduces systems such as retirement age extension, in the first year of extension (age 66), workers could receive 40% of their previous wages, and by age 75, 10 years later, 20%, thereby extending their workplace retention period by 10 years." He emphasized, "Prospective new elderly individuals can receive basic allowances and become confident productive members of society, which will also help solve issues related to elderly support and pensions in a super-aged society."

He also announced plans to promote the ‘Home-based End-of-Life Care System’ to support elderly people to pass away at home. Chairman Lee said, "We will use the budget currently allocated to elderly nursing homes for home care and helper support so that elderly people can hold the hands of their beloved family members and pass away at home." He added, "To this end, we will arrange employment opportunities in Korea for foreign nursing assistants."

Chairman Lee promised to revitalize the Korea Senior Citizens Association’s operations by establishing a new ‘Population Department’ that simultaneously supports low birth rates and elderly welfare, constructing a central office for the Korea Senior Citizens Association in Seoul, and expanding support for senior volunteers. He said, "I am fully aware that this position represents the rights and services of 10 million elderly people, so I carry a heavy sense of responsibility." He added, "We will develop better policies for elderly care and strive to shape the Korea Senior Citizens Association into a senior organization that contributes to national and social development."

The event was attended by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, Lee Eon-ju, Supreme Council Member of the Democratic Party, Seo Beom-su, Secretary-General of the People Power Party, Jeon Gwang-sam, Senior Secretary for Civil Society at the Presidential Office, Choi Ho-jung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, Lee Ki-il, First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare, as well as presidents and branch heads of the nationwide Korea Senior Citizens Association.

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