South Korea's Senior Poverty: The 'Economic Miracle' No One Mentions
The Korea Times reveals that 39.7% of Koreans aged 66 and older languish below the relative poverty line, nearly triple the OECD average and the highest among member countries. This is the 'dual crisis' of income insecurity and deteriorating health, particularly for those 75 and older, largely ignored in the triumphant narratives of Samsung and BTS. While headlines celebrate South Korea's
technological prowess and K-pop exports—fueled by policies that prioritized rapid industrialization over robust social safety nets—millions who built that prosperity face destitution. We hear endless platitudes about economic growth, yet the human cost of that specific brand of 'miracle' is rarely quantified beyond GDP. One might wonder if the success was truly miraculous for everyone, or just for
those at the top, leaving a significant portion of its aging population to pay the ultimate price for unchecked capitalism. How many 'economic miracles' does it take before we acknowledge the human wreckage left behind by such single-minded pursuit?