An average of 43 people commit suicide on any given day in south korea, making it the most suicide-prone country in the developed world. South Korea’s suicide rate has been rising dramatically, jumping by 101.8% from 2000 to 2010. The rate is twice as high among the elderly.the elderly population is in some ways a by-product of the country’s economic transformation that turned South Korea into one of the richest nations in the world. Elderly citizens, who are generally perceived as less productive, are therefore seen as less valuable. the government started the Basic Old-Age Pension System for people who meet income and asset requirements; roughly 70% of the elderly receive benefits under this scheme. Even so, the amount they receive sometimes falls short of the elderly living costs recommended by the Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The Korean government needs to invest more money to promote the well-being of senior citizens as more jobs would be created to help alleviate old-age poverty and loneliness.
After reading this article, i felt that the Korean government are trying very hard to help this crisis;a crisis whereby these senior citizens commit suicide as they felt that they are a heavy burden to society and are unwanted. This is actually like what the article had said, a result of development. I agree with what the government is planning to do, to invest more money to promote the well-being of senior citizens as this would let other age groups to know the "value" of these people. The young generation would also learn and know that the elderly were the ones who actually helped Korea to develop and are to be respected.
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