8월 둘째주-박지윤

The enrollment rate for the low-income group was 41%, half that of the middle- and high-income groups. It reveals that only four out of 10 people in the low-income bracket are enrolled in the National Pension. South Korea has one of the highest elderly poverty rates among OECD member countries, necessitating numerous support policies, as many elderly individuals are unprepared for the future.  According to data from the National Pension Research Institute(NPRI), only 40.96% of individuals aged 20 to 59 in the ‘low-income’ bracket, earning less than two-thirds of the median wage, were enrolled in the National Pension, including occupational pensions.  Compared to 2009, 12 years ago, it only increased 2.15%p. In contrast, the enrollment rate for the ‘intermediate’ bracket was 78.09%, earning between two-thirds and 1.5 times the median wage, for the ‘high’ bracket was 80.46, earning more than 1.5 times the median wage. The enrollment for the ‘intermediate’ bracket and the ‘high’ bracket increased by 13.62%p and 6.84%p respectively, compared to 2009, showing a larger increase than the ‘low-income’ bracket.  In the meantime, the government has provided support for the payment of premiums for the ‘low-income’ bracket, but the impact appears to be limited. As a result, the low-income bracket, which has no financial security for old age, finds itself marginalized from the public pension system.  As the gap in public pension coverage has not been effectively reduced, the poverty rate(the percentage of individuals with disposable income below 50% of the median income) has increased, especially among the elderly. The poverty rate for those aged 65 years and older decreased from 40.19% in 2011 to 37.71% in 2021, but the poverty rate for the super-aged man, those aged 85 years old and above, increased by 4.21%p, rising from 48.23% to 52.44%.  The middle aged whose 45 to 64, aren’t ready for the future, beyond 40%. According to data by Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, among middle-aged individuals, 26.7% experienced difficult such as financial burdens due to family caregiving, while 43% reported being unprepared for retirement. Additionally, 12.5% faced both the burden of family caregiving and a lack of retirement preparation.  To reduce the poverty rate of the elderly, consider to support the general fiscal support to them, NPRI proposed. For pension reform, it suggested gradually increasing the contribution rate while setting a cap, raising the pensionable age, increasing the income replacement rate, and enhancing benefits through measures such as supporting low-income contributors.