Skip to main content
Log in

Elder care in Korea: The future is now

  • Korea
  • Published:
Ageing International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Modernization has greatly affected the lives of individuals and families in many ways in Korea. Women, the primary caregivers of the elderly, are increasingly entering the workforce, and families are becoming more mobile and segmented. With the decline in fertility and mortality rates, population aging has generated significant demands for long-term care. This paper examines the characteristics and implications of aging in Korea, focusing on the influence of cultural heritage on caregiving and the development of formal services for the older population. This paper argues that there should be a balance between social policy established by the Korean government and family care for the elderly.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • American Association of Retired Persons [AARP]. 1998. Global Aging Report: Aging Everywhere. Washington DC: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Archbold, P. G. 1982. “All-consuming Activity: The Family as Caregiver” Generations, VII: 12.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chee, Y. K. and Levkoff, S. E. In Press. Culture and Dementia: Accounts by Family Caregivers and Health Professionals for Affected Elder in South Korea.

  • Chee, Y. K. and Levkoff, S. E. 1999. Intrinsic Rewards of Family Caregivers for Dementia-Affected Elders in Contemporary South Korea. Paper presented at the 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America. November, San Francisco.

  • Choi, S. -J. 1996. “The Family and Ageing in Korea: A New Concern and Challenge.” Ageing and Society, 16: 1–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Choi, S. -J. 1995. “Social Welfare Policy for Elderly Koreans.” In S. -J. Choi, and H. -K. Suh (eds.), Aging in Korea: Today and Tomorrow (pp.121–140). Seoul, Korea: Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chung, K. 1998. Living State and Its Policy Implications of the Korean Elderly. Seoul, Korea: Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeVos, S. and Lee, Y. 1993. “Change in Extended Family Living among Elderly People in South Korea,” Economic Development and Cultural Change, 41: 377–393.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gatz, M., Bengston, V. L. and Blum, M. J. 1991. “Caregiving Families.” In J.E. Birren, and K.W. Schaie, (eds.), Handbook of the Psychology of Aging (3rd ed., pp. 405–426). San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glassman, M. H. 1996. “Housing for the Elderly.” In W. R. Reichel, J. J. Gallo, J. Busby-Whitehead, J. Delfs, and J. B. Murphy, (eds., 4th ed.). Care of the Elderly: Clinical Aspects of Aging (pp. 514–520). Baltimore: Williams and Wilkins.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, J. M. 1999. “Respite for Caregivers: A Community-Based Model in a Rural Setting,” Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 25: 22–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hur, J. 1993. “The Elderly and Health: Physical Health.” In Asian Foundation (ed.), Modern Society and Welfare Services for the Aged. Seoul, Korea.

  • Japan Aging Research Center 1999. Statistical Abstracts of Aging in Japan, 1999/2000. Tokyo, Japan: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kauh, T. -O. 1997. “Intergenerational relations: Older Korean-Americans’ experiences,” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 12: 245–271.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, C. S. (1998). Living Arrangements of Korean Elderly Parents: Preferences and Actual Circumstances. Unpublished Ph.D. Dissertation. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim C. -S. and Rhee, K. -O. 1999. “Living Arrangements in Old Age: Views of Elderly and Middle Aged Adults in Korea,” Hallym International Journal of Aging, 1: 95–111.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kim, I. K., Liang, J., Rhee, K. -O., and Kim, C. -S. 1996. “Population Aging in Korea: Changes Since the 1960s,” Journal of Cross-Cultural Gerontology, 11: 369–388.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, T. H., Kim, D. B., Lee, Y. J. and Kim, A. S. 1999. “A Study on Improvement of the Quality of Life for the Aged (II),” Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 19: 61–81.

    Google Scholar 

  • Knodel, J. and Debavalya, N. 1997. “Living Arrangements and Support of the Elderly in South East Asia,” Asia-Pacific Population Journal, 12: 5–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Korean Institute of Gerontology 1993. Strategies for the Development of Silver Industry. Seoul, Korea: Hongikjae Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. 1995. Korean and North American Caucasian Caregivers of Dementia Patients: A Cross-cultural Comparison of Caregiver Burden. Unpublished Dissertation. University of Texas, Austin, TX.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lee, Y. and Sung, K.T. 1998. “Cultural Influences on Caregiving Burden: Cases of Koreans and Americans,” International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 46: 125–141.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, L. 1990. “Changing Intergenerational Family Relations in East Asia,” Annals, AAPSS, 510: 102–114.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mason, O. K. 1992. “Family Change and Support of the elderly in Asia: What Do We know?” Asia-Pacific Population Journal. 7: 13–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Health and Social Affairs 1994. An Analysis of Characteristics of Recipients of Livelihood Protection Benefits. Seoul, Korea: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Statistical Office 1995. Yearbook for the Economic Activity Population. Seoul, Korea: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Statistical Office 1994. Annual Report on the Economically Active Population Survey. Seoul, Korea: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Statistical Office 1993. Population and Housing Census. Seoul, Korea: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Statistical Office 1991. Population Projection for 1990–2021. Seoul, Korea: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Noelker, L. S. and Bass, D. M. 1989. “Home Care for Elderly Persons: Linkage between Formal and Informal Caregivers,” Journal of Gerontology, 44: 63–70.

    Google Scholar 

  • Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD]. 1995. Health data. Paris: The Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Park, K. R. 1993. “Eldest Daughters-in-law’s Perceptions about Caregiving Strain with Their Mothers-in-law: Examinations of Determinant and Mediators,” Journal of the Korean Gerontological Society, 13: 75–89.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rhee, K. -O. 1994. The Current Conditions of the Aged, Living, and Policy. Seoul, Korea: The Korea Institute for Population and Health.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shin, S. -J. 1995. “Status and Role of the Elderly in Modern Korean Society.” In S. -J. Choi, and H. -K. Suh (eds.), Aging in Korea: Today and Tomorrow (pp.37–48). Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies, Seoul, Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung, K. T. 1992. “Motivations for Parent Care: The Case of Filial Children in Korea,” International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 34: 109–124.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sung, K.T. 1994. “South Korea.” In Kosberg, J.I. (ed.), International Handbook on Services for the Elderly (pp. 356–372). Greenwood, Westport, CT.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sung, K.T. 1995. “Measures and Dimensions of Filial Piety in Korea.” The Gerontologist, 35: 240–247.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, H. and Cha, H.-B. In Press. Factors Associated with Family Caregivers Burden and Depression for the Impaired Elderly in Korea.

  • Yoon, H. and Cha, H. -B. 1999. “Future Issues for Family Care of the Elderly in Korea,” Hallym International Journal of Aging, 1: 78–86.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yoon, J. -J. 1996. “Population Aging and Changes in Family Factors.” In S. -J. Choi, and H,-K. Suh (eds.), Aging in Korea: Today and Tomorrow (pp.7–20). Federation of Korean Gerontological Societies, Seoul, Korea.

    Google Scholar 

  • Youn, G. and Song, D. 1991. “Aging Koreans’ Perceived Conflicts in Relationships with Their Offspring as a Function of Age, Gender, Cohabitation Status, and Marital Status,” Journal of Social Psychology, 132: 299–305.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Youn, G., Knight, B. G., Jeong, H. -S. and Benton, D. 1999. “Differences in FamilismValues and Caregiving Outcomes among Korean, Korean American, and White American Dementia Caregivers,” Psychology and Aging, 14: 355–364.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zarit, S. H., Gaugler, J. E. and Jarrott, S. E. 1999. “Useful Services for Families: Research Findings and Directions,” International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 14: 178–181.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yeon Kyung Chee Ph.D..

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chee, Y.K. Elder care in Korea: The future is now. Ageing Int. 26, 25–37 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-000-1002-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12126-000-1002-1

Keywords

Navigation