Korean seniors becoming more isolated

Due to the advance in information technology, the increase in life expectancy and the lack of financial funding after retirement, Korea is turning into a deserted island for its elderly citizens.

This is born out by the increasing rate of crimes committed by those 61 and older.

In an examplary case, a 63-year-old man identified by the surname Park stabbed his next-door neighbor 7-8 times in the stomach and face with a kitchen knife on Nov. 14 because he felt he was being ignored.

That would not be the end of crimes committed by the unemployed man living in Jongno, central Seoul.

While serving at a local corrections camp a week after the incident, he snuck into a supervisor`s bunk and tried to set it on fire -- an act of vengeance for the punishments he had received during his time there.

The number of convicts 61 or older has more than doubled over the past decade, jumping from 34,492 in 1996 to 82,323 in 2006, according to a summarized report released by Jang Joon-oh, international relations director at the Korean Institute of Criminology.

Seniors accounted for 4.3 percent of all crimes committed in 2006, and the three major felonies -- murder, arson and sex crimes -- rose sharply.

The figure for senior murderers virtually tripled from 20 in 1996 to 59 in 2006, while the number of arsonists went up more than six-fold, from seven to 46.

A total of 423 seniors were involved in sex crimes in 2006, which is nearly five times the 1996 figure of 94.

"First of all, because of the declining rate of physical activity, elderly people experience a deteriorating state of health and chronic symptoms, which leads to a feeling of uneasiness, frustration and a lack of patience," said Han Dong-hyo, professor in the police administration division at the International University of Korea in Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province.

These symptoms eventually cause seniors to think in a more self-centered manner, giving them less room to make further adaptations to society, he said.

Recall two other shocking incidents: the 610-year-old national treasure known as Namdaemun was destroyed by a 70-year-old arsonist Chae Jong-gi last year, and a 70-year-old fisherman killed four tourists in Boseong, South Jeolla Province, in September.

"In the past, seniors aged over 60 used to stay home after retiring from work but that has now changed with more seniors taking on more social responsibilities outside of their homes," Jang said. "But as they get more isolated from society, what they lack now is the financial funding that could support those activities, meaning they can`t afford their own living expenses as they get old."

This means that seniors become lonelier due to the formation of more nuclear families. However, seniors` dependency on those families also surges, as a majority of seniors are jobless as they turn 60.

The report by the criminology institute also supports this aspect by pointing out that what has changed from 1995 and before is that the major motive behind violent felonies committed by seniors has shifted from hatred to economic issues.

It found that 24.1 percent of senior convicts committed felonies due to a greed and 16.9 percent did so because of hatred or outrage.

A trial early last week provided a good example of greed-motivated crime.

A district court in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, sentenced a 62-year-old man to 18 months in jail for extorting 40 million won ($29,439) from some public officials by threatening to reveal their extramarital affairs. He and two others involved in the crime called the civil servants up randomly by picking the names and phone numbers from the websites of certain government agencies. They told the victims that they were members of an intelligence agency, which the victims apparently believed.

Experts also say the nation`s status as an aging society contributes to an increase in potential senior criminals.

"More financial funding is required since the lifespans of seniors is getting longer," said Lee Yoon-ho, a professor in the police administration department at Dongguk University. "The longer life expectancy for seniors results in better health and physical conditions but they are unable to settle sexual desires without economic competence, which is why sex crimes committed by seniors are on the rise."

The question then comes down to what could be done to provide a solution to the rising number of violent crimes by seniors.

"An increase in the number of jobs for seniors could relieve the feeling of isolation for seniors and make them feel like they are participating in the community," said Han. "However, they should be market-oriented jobs that could take care of the seniors` financial hardships and a re-employment support system should be established at the same time."

Lee said an expansion in senior social welfare -- which he said is currently insufficient -- is another step that could be taken by the public sector.

"Aside from providing them with more workplaces, a larger number of educational programs and extra leisure sessions, more efforts should be made to help them build healthy relationships and to reduce the cases of crime committed by seniors."

By Cho Ji-hyun



(sharon@heraldm.com)