OECD에서 가장 고독한 한국 노인! 남자 고독사 비율 여성보다 월등히 높은 이유는 '이것' (KBS 20170406 방송)

■ A Lonely Death Unknown to the World Last August, during a sweltering heatwave, an elderly man in his 80s was found dead in a Daejeon home. He was Mr. Park, who had lived alone since his wife passed away. Neighbors only saw Mr. Park when he was out to take out the trash or on his way out. They remembered him as an old man dragging his shoes, perhaps because his legs were sore. Despite living here for nearly a decade, he had no interaction with his neighbors. Thanks to his son, who lived nearby, who frequently visited to check on his well-being, Mr. Park's body was discovered early. Mr. Choi, who was found dead in the same village, was not found by neighbors until a week later. Despite being a multi-generational multifamily home, even here, a single elderly person felt like an isolated island. In August alone, three elderly people were found dead in Daejeon's Dong-gu district. All had lived alone, living in solitude. The deaths of these three elderly people felt like a distant memory. The elderly residents living alone say, "The night is frightening." ■ Growing Old in This Country What does it mean to be elderly in South Korea? How many elderly people live alone? According to Statistics Korea, the number of people aged 65 and older in South Korea surpassed 7.2% of the total population in the 20th century, entering an aging society. By the second half of 2017, the country is expected to reach 14% of the population, becoming an aged society. Ten years from now, the number will surpass 21%, making it a super-aged society. The number of elderly people living alone is also growing rapidly, rising from 540,000 in 2000 to 1.44 million in 2016. Aging is equal for everyone. However, the signs of aging are not welcomed. Because society often dislikes older people, Choi Hong-seon (71) underwent plastic surgery. After being fired from his position as director of a management office due to his age, he decided to undergo the procedure out of desperation to secure a job. In an era where the average life expectancy is 80 years, seniors face an uncertain future after retirement. How will they accept and navigate the reality that confronts them? ■ The most difficult thing to endure is loneliness. Ultimately, growing old doesn't end with physical deterioration. The social prejudice that old age makes one useless has made old age on this earth a fearful reality. The hardest thing for seniors to endure is growing old alone! 80-year-old Ko Dae-jin, who poured all his retirement and national pension savings into his children's business, makes a living by collecting scrap paper. His back-breaking work, starting at dawn, pays him only about 8,000 won. When he returns home after a grueling day, no one awaits him. Lee Jang-heon, a retired court official, is 89 years old this year. He has lived alone for ten years since his wife passed away. His children visit regularly, and he doesn't face financial difficulties, but the struggles remain. I'm so lonely that even mentioning my wife brings tears to my eyes. If my health doesn't allow it, I have to live a life of isolation. 76-year-old Jang Jeong-suk hasn't been able to leave her home for a year. She told reporters she'd like to go to the market if she could, but was found collapsed in a bathhouse three days later. She was rushed to the hospital by ambulance, her last time out in a year. ■ Missing People A mountain village in Inje County, Gangwon Province. Most of the village's residents are elderly people who live alone. The average age is 72. The ninety-year-old grandfather, widowed after his wife's death, moved back to his son's house in the city, but he felt suffocated. Mrs. Jang, with her hunched back, has also been living alone for 25 years. The Song couple from the Manmul Truck, who visit three times a week, provide her with support. Sometimes, she waits for the Manmul Truck for hours. This is why so many elderly people in the city go to the Colatech. Currently, there are about six colatexs (cold bars) catering to different age groups in the Jegi-dong and Cheongnyangni areas. There are approximately 400 colatexs in Seoul, of which about 100 are exclusively for seniors. While some may view seniors visiting colatexs with suspicion, the truth is that many seniors seek relief from loneliness by visiting them. From missing people to finding comfort in colatexs, to finding comfort in the food trucks, seniors find ways to relieve their loneliness and return home. However, their homes are filled with loneliness. ■ Korean Seniors: The Loneliest Among OECD Countries "Do you have family or friends to lean on when you're in trouble?" In fact, South Korean seniors are the loneliest among OECD countries. According to the OECD's "2016 Better Life Index," released in May of last year, South Korea scored 0.2 out of 10 in the social relationship category, ranking last among OECD member countries. The positive response rate among those aged 15 to 29 was 93.26%, higher than the overall averag...