抄録 | During the thirty-year period beginning in 1962, South Korea continually posted annual economic growth figures of seven points above the annual average. In 1996, following in the footsteps of Japan, it became an Asian member nation to the OECD. Economic growth was given priority over social security at this time, with the result that the latter showed little development, though calls for greater commitment to social security grew louder on the strength of OECD membership. The Asian currency crisis of 1997, beginning with the collapse of Thailand's Baht, directly affected South Korea, however, leading to an economic crisis. Despite such conditions, it was decided that a major policy shift on social security was needed. For one thing, Korea's population was aging more rapidly than anywhere else in the world, and many predicted this would have powerful socio-economic repercussions. The present essay examines the current state of funding appropriations, special features of public policies toward the aged, and the problem of social security with regard to South Korea's aging society. In particular, we discuss problems in welfare, medical insurance, and social services for the elderly, while clarifying the impact of an aging society on economic conditions. Our first section explains current fund allocation procedures, including changes in budgetary appropriations for public health insurance and social security. The trend in recent years has been to increase funding in these areas, but compared with other OECD member nations it remains inadequate. In the second section, we note the existence of policies and programs that show respect for the elderly, and provide preferential treatment for them. However, when compared with Europe and the United States, the social security system still lags behind. Our third section argues that the rapid aging of society in South Korea urgently demands an overhaul of welfare and public health systems, as well as social assistance for the elderly. If this overhaul is delayed, the socio-economic consequences will be severe. |