ID :
208566
Wed, 09/21/2011 - 12:35
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/208566
The shortlink copeid
Solve economic problems facing baby boom generation
SEOUL, Sept. 21 (Yonhap) -- Suicide and divorce rates among South Koreans in their early 50s have sharply increased due chiefly to heightened economic pressures and health problems.
According to the Statistics Korea and the National Police Agency Tuesday, the suicide rate for men aged 50-54 was 62.4 per 100,000 persons in 2009, quadrupling from 20 years ago. It is the highest since the statistics agency began compiling the rate.
The same rate for women aged 50 to 54 was 19.9 in 2009, which represents a 283 percent gain. Growth of the suicide rate for men aged 30-34 stood at 149 percent, followed by 193 percent for men aged 40-44.
Divorce rate for that age bracket commonly called the "baby boom generation" was also higher than that in other age groups. The number of male divorcees rose 34.8 percent to 15,813 last year, up from 11,792 in 2006, while female divorcees numbered 11,689 last year, up 53.2 percent from 7,628 in 2006.
Their divorce rate also rose to 0.83 percent from 0.76 percent for men in 2005, while that for women grew to 0.59 percent from 0.50 percent during the cited period. Divorce rate for the entire population fell from 0.66 percent for men and 0.65 percent for women to 0.56 percent during the same period.
The baby boom generation who were born between 1955 and 1963 after the 1950-1953 Korean War had to live a more competitive life compared with people in other age brackets. Although they contributed greatly to the modernization and development of the nation, they had to suffer economic hardships, and many of them have not been able to make sufficient preparations for their life after retirement.
People in their 50s who followed in the footsteps of the baby boom generation survived fierce competition, and they are now sort of caught between their parent and offspring generations, a police official said.
In order to help them, economic problems should be solved first. A 2010 survey by the Statistics Korea showed 44.9 percent of men cited economic difficulty for feeling suicidal impulsion. Actually, the suicide of key breadearners surged steeply following the financial crisis of 1997 and more recently in 2008.
Not a small portion -- 13.7 percent -- of the baby boom generation is known to have not subscribed to the national pension, while 63.8 percent of them don't have retirement allowances.
It is urgently needed to create jobs for babyboomers so that they can make money after retirement.
It is also necessary to provide them with opportunities to solve loneliness, which accounts for 11 percent of reasons to feel suicidal impulsion. Providing necessary medical cares for the aged people is also important.
As our society is rapidly heading to an aged society, caring of those in their 50s and older is a task that we all should tackle with urgency.
According to the Statistics Korea and the National Police Agency Tuesday, the suicide rate for men aged 50-54 was 62.4 per 100,000 persons in 2009, quadrupling from 20 years ago. It is the highest since the statistics agency began compiling the rate.
The same rate for women aged 50 to 54 was 19.9 in 2009, which represents a 283 percent gain. Growth of the suicide rate for men aged 30-34 stood at 149 percent, followed by 193 percent for men aged 40-44.
Divorce rate for that age bracket commonly called the "baby boom generation" was also higher than that in other age groups. The number of male divorcees rose 34.8 percent to 15,813 last year, up from 11,792 in 2006, while female divorcees numbered 11,689 last year, up 53.2 percent from 7,628 in 2006.
Their divorce rate also rose to 0.83 percent from 0.76 percent for men in 2005, while that for women grew to 0.59 percent from 0.50 percent during the cited period. Divorce rate for the entire population fell from 0.66 percent for men and 0.65 percent for women to 0.56 percent during the same period.
The baby boom generation who were born between 1955 and 1963 after the 1950-1953 Korean War had to live a more competitive life compared with people in other age brackets. Although they contributed greatly to the modernization and development of the nation, they had to suffer economic hardships, and many of them have not been able to make sufficient preparations for their life after retirement.
People in their 50s who followed in the footsteps of the baby boom generation survived fierce competition, and they are now sort of caught between their parent and offspring generations, a police official said.
In order to help them, economic problems should be solved first. A 2010 survey by the Statistics Korea showed 44.9 percent of men cited economic difficulty for feeling suicidal impulsion. Actually, the suicide of key breadearners surged steeply following the financial crisis of 1997 and more recently in 2008.
Not a small portion -- 13.7 percent -- of the baby boom generation is known to have not subscribed to the national pension, while 63.8 percent of them don't have retirement allowances.
It is urgently needed to create jobs for babyboomers so that they can make money after retirement.
It is also necessary to provide them with opportunities to solve loneliness, which accounts for 11 percent of reasons to feel suicidal impulsion. Providing necessary medical cares for the aged people is also important.
As our society is rapidly heading to an aged society, caring of those in their 50s and older is a task that we all should tackle with urgency.
