From ageism to eldernomics to returnship

A politician should put the brain to work on something like this, not on simply calculating votes.

JANG WON-SEOKThe author is a stock market news reporter of the JoongAng Ilbo. Everyone ages. Body function gradually declines. It is not anyone’s fault, but sometimes, one may be mocked for being old. It is not uncommon to be a victim of certain discrimination.

American geriatrician Robert Butler defined this as “ageism” in 1969. It refers to a stereotyping based on age or a clannish attitude towards a certain age group.

Ageism does not necessarily refer to old age. In a broad sense, it is about discrimination based on age. “Choding” in Korean, which refers to elementary school students, and Gen MZ often have a derogatory tone.

It is commonplace and deep-rooted. Just like gender and racial discrimination, one may engage in an act of promoting or condoning discrimination without realizing. That’s why we need to pay special attention.

Kim Eun-kyung, chair of the Democratic Party’s innovation committee, was under fire for saying, “We should give people voting rights in proportion to the time left until their death.” She said she just mentioned what her son suggested. But since she said it was reasonable and correct, she seems to support the idea. Rep. Yang Yiwonyoung helped out and said, “Many people who are voting now won’t be alive in the future.” That is more terrible. The comment contains her mindset of calculating the age and headcount only for votes.

What is even more surprising is the laid-back attitude towards the keyword of age. The share of the elderly population aged 65 or older in Korea will exceed 20% in two years, which will make it a super-aged society.

Korea is being headed to the world’s oldest country. Not only economic growth but also labor, pensions and medical care are on the verge of shaking the entire national system. Nothing is easy. But if you leave it unattended, it will be an immense burden for the next generation.

Just in time, the book “Super Age” by demographic futurist Bradley Schurman offers a refreshing perspective. He claims that an aging society will be an opportunity, not a crisis. But first, he cites the need to overcome ageism. Only then can “elderomics” — led by the elderly in labor and consumption — settle. In the book, there are many ideas to listen to, such as expanding “returnship.”

If you are worried about the future generation for real, please read books and study. A politician should put the brain to work on something like this, not on simply calculating votes.