One in Ten Victims of Abuse of Older Persons Faces Repeated Abuse, Rights of Older Women Facing Abuse Needs To Be Protected
— Hidden Abuse, Repeated Harm: Rights of Older Persons in Jeopardy in a Super-Aged Society —
□ On the occasion of “Elder Abuse Prevention Day” and “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day” on June 15, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea (Chairperson Ahn Chang-ho) issues following statement to raise awareness on the increasingly serious reality of abuse of older persons and to call for greater public attention and active participation to prevent and eradicate such abuse.
□ In 2025, South Korea has officially entered a super-aged society, with over 10 million people aged 65 or older. In particular, with rural and fishing communities facing population decline and the risk of regional extinction, ensuring the dignity and fundamental human rights of older persons in areas such as healthcare, long-term care, and daily life has become more important than ever.
□ In this context, abuse of older persons has emerged as a grave social issue. It is not simply a matter of individual behavior but a structural problem encompassing the caregiving system and social environment. In a super-aged society, older persons often require physical and emotional care due to aging-related vulnerability, which increases their risk of abuse. At the same time, the reality that a small number of care workers are responsible for many older persons highlights the urgent need to ensure the rights of care providers—an issue directly linked to the human rights of those receiving care.
□ According to the Annual Report on Elder Abuse published every June 15 by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Central Elder Protection Agency, the number of reported abuse cases has doubled from 3,532 in 2014 to 7,025 in 2023. However, this figure likely represents only the tip of the iceberg. Many older persons silently endure abuse—often by family members—without being able or willing to report it.
□ Abuse of Older Persons is rarely a one-time incident. It tends to be cyclical, hidden from view, and often occurs when the perpetrator does not even recognize their behavior as abusive. Of all reported cases, 759 (10.8%) involved repeated abuse. Particularly alarming is the gendered vulnerability: 623 of these repeated victims were older women.
- Repeated abuse is more than repeated violence—it signals failures in caregiving systems and reveals the limitations of current support frameworks. When violence becomes normalized and remains unrecognized in daily life, it exposes blind spots in the protection of older persons’ rights.
□ The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has recommended on several occasions that the Korean government identify the structural causes of abuse of older persons and establish specialized support systems for victims.
- In line with these recommendations, the National Human Rights Commission of Korea in December 2022 recommended that the Minister of Health and Welfare evenly establish dedicated shelters across the country for older persons who have experienced abuse, so that all victims can access psychological support and protection against repeated abuse. We once again urge swift implementation of this recommendation.
□ Building an environment in which older persons can live with dignity is essential for both our present and future. We extend our deepest gratitude and encouragement to the social workers at older persons' protection agencies throughout the country who continue to work with dedication to prevent abuse and safeguard the rights of older persons.
□ The National Human Rights Commission of Korea will do its utmost to ensure that everyone in a super-aged society can lead a life of dignity and well-being. We urge all members of society to show warm concern and human rights sensitivity toward the older persons around us. We firmly believe that our shared attention and action can prevent abuse of older persons and help build a society grounded in human rights.
June 15, 2025
Ahn Chang-ho
Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission of Korea
