Familial and Social Contexts of Aging in Korea

Abstract

Based on the data of the nation-wide survey "The Living Status of Korean Elderly"

in 1994, this study examines the family relationship by analyzing household size,

living arrangements, and frequency of contacting family, and shows family care for the elderly by identifying their financial, physical and emotional support system. Out of the total aged respondents (2,058 aged 60 years and over) 41.0 percent (31.2 percent in urban areas and 54.0 percent in rural areas) live apart from their children. The highest proportion (21.7 percent) of the elderly see their separately living children once every three months. However, 44.3% of the elderly receive financial aid from their children as their main source of income. This study shows that the family still plays important and comprehensive roles in caring for the elderly, even though the function of family supports for the elderly has been weakened.