In order to prepare for the impact of the rapidly ageing populations on the human rights situation of the elderly, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (NHRCK) made recommendations that the government guarantee the right to labor, health, and income of the elderly and devise measures to prevent elderly abuse and suicide.
The elderly population in Korea accounts for 7 to 13 percent of the nation’s total population, and the figure is expected to top 14 percent within the next five years, making the country an aged society. The poverty rate among people over 66 is highest among OECD members at 45% and the elderly suicide rate is also No.1 in the OECD. Against this backdrop, the NHRCK reviewed relevant government polices and made recommendations for improvements as follows:
? The government should expand the public pension fund for elderly people to reduce the elderly poverty rate.
? The government should devise measures to increase elderly access to medical services and to vitalize its nutrition projects.
? The government should establish an elderly-friendly medical system under which the development of secondary diseases among elderly people is effectively curbed and elderly people are provided with a wide range of medical services regardless of their health conditions.
? The government should come up with plans to guarantee the right to labor of the elderly including increasing the legal retirement age.
? The government should seek ways to expand the supply of public rental housing for seniors and develop standards to improve housing conditions of those who are not eligible for the elderly public housing.
? The government should set up a cooperative and information sharing network with relevant state bodies to better support low-come elderly people who are vulnerable to abuse and suicide.
