An elderly man walks through a subway station. /Yonhap
A group of academics and civic experts in South Korea has formally proposed that the country’s official elderly age, currently set at 65, be gradually raised to 70.
Ten experts, including academics and leaders from senior citizens' associations and gerontological societies, released a joint social proposal on the elderly age standard on May 9. The group had participated in a series of government-led discussions hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare earlier this year. However, with official debate stalling under the current administration, the experts independently compiled and released their recommendations.
They noted that the current elderly age standard, established in 1981 under the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, no longer reflects today’s social and demographic realities. Life expectancy has risen by more than 15 years to 83.5, and studies show that the average health level of 70-year-olds today is comparable to that of 65-year-olds a decade ago.
They also pointed to shifting social perceptions. Since 2011, surveys have consistently found that seniors do not consider themselves “elderly” until well past 70. In 2023, the average perceived threshold rose to 71.6. A recent survey by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs found that middle-aged respondents viewed 69.8 as the appropriate elderly age.
The experts proposed setting 70 as the new standard through a phased process, citing a growing mismatch between existing definitions and the lived experience of aging. They noted that the age at which a person has 15 years of life remaining, a benchmark often used in gerontology, has shifted from 62 in 1980 to 73 in 2023.
At the same time, the group emphasized that policy changes must account for South Korea’s high elderly poverty rate and widespread lack of retirement preparedness. They urged the government to extend employment periods, ensure continued income beyond statutory retirement, and offer broader opportunities for older adults to rejoin the workforce based on their needs and abilities.
They also recommended gradually raising the age thresholds for pension eligibility. While the National Pension’s payout age is already set to rise from 63 to 65 by 2033, they suggested considering the National Pension Review Committee’s proposal to raise it further to 68 by 2048. For the Basic Pension, they proposed increasing the eligibility age to 66 starting in 2030, followed by biennial one-year increases to reach 70 by 2040.
Regarding senior benefit programs such as free subway fares, the experts proposed adjusting age criteria while applying flexible conditions based on income, wealth, and region. However, they emphasized that access to healthcare and long-term care services should remain based on individual need, regardless of age.
They also called for a new system that would review and adjust the elderly age standard every five years, taking into account indicators such as health status, labor participation, elderly poverty, and the old-age dependency ratio.
While the proposal does not carry immediate policy weight, it marks the first formal recommendation to raise the elderly age in South Korea. Lim Eul-ki, head of elderly policy at the Health Ministry, confirmed its significance and said further discussion is expected after the next administration takes office.