More than 200 people aged over 100 are receiving national pension benefits in South Korea, with the oldest beneficiary aged 111, government data showed Sunday.
According to the National Pension Service, 201 people over the age of 100 were receiving benefits as of January this year, out of a total of 7.07 million pension recipients. Among them, 138 were women, more than double the 63 men.
The number of centenarian pension recipients has steadily increased over the years in line with the country’s rapidly aging population. In 2010, there were just 13 recipients over 100, rising to 18 in 2011, 20 in 2012, 31 in 2013 and 101 by 2020. The growth has accelerated over the past five years, pushing the number past 200 this year.
All 201 centenarian pension recipients are currently receiving survivor’s pensions – monthly payments provided to the family members of deceased individuals who were eligible for old-age or disability pensions. These include spouses and children under the age of 25.
As of April, there were 8,806 people aged over 100 in the country, according to population statistics.
shinjh@heraldcorp.com
