Violence towards parents and grandparents on the rise

An increase of 90.5% was recorded compared to 2014. Analysts find a connection with the rapid aging of the population. South Koreans aged 65 and over make up 14.9% of the population. The burden on young people called to support the elderly will continue to grow.

Seoul (AsiaNews / Agencies) – Cases of children abusing parents and grandparents is on the rise in South Korea. In 2018, the authorities arrested 2,705 people for crimes against their closest relatives. The figure shows an increase of 90.5% compared to the 1,420 cases of 2014. This is what emerges from a parliamentary survey, prepared with the data provided by the police.

The number of arrests was 2,222 in 2015, 2,685 in 2016 and 2,359 in 2017. By type of crime, in 2018 the aggression took the lion's share with 1,845 episodes (68.2% of the total), followed by physical damage with 403, intimidation with 152 and murder with 73.

Analysts find a link between the increase in attacks on parents and grandparents and the aging of the population. South Koreans aged 65 and over make up 14.9% of the population. This was revealed by another report, released yesterday by Statistics Korea - an institution within the Ministry of Planning and Finance.

The agency expects the South Korean population to peak in 2028, then continue on a downward curve. However, the aging process in South Korea will accelerate, with the number of elderly people rising to 19 million in 2050 - or 39.8% of the population.

By 2060, there is a risk that the elderly will represent 43.9% of the country, according to the report. A rapidly aging population, combined with low birth rates, is a burden on the nation's finances due to the rising cost of health and care services for the elderly.

The Statistics Korea document states that, for the time being, there are 4.4 people of working age for every senior citizen; in 2000 these were 9.9. The researchers predict that the figure will fall further to 2.6 in 2030, 1.7 in 2040 and 1 in 2065. This indicates that the burden on young people called to support the elderly will continue to grow.

• South Korea
• economy
• demography
• crimes
• violence
• aggression
• the elderly
• young people
• parents
• grandparents