KIHASA published this year’s March issue of Health and Welfare Policy Forum. The foreword is written by professor Eun Ki Soo of Seoul National University, discussing changing norms and values toward a post-industrial society. The articles in this issue’s focus include "Social Attitudes toward Family Formation in and outside of Marriage in Korea" by Byoun Soo-Jung of KIHASA; "Social Perceptions of Family Functions, Gender Roles and Responsibilities" by Kim Eun Jung of KIHASA; "Social Perceptions of Age and Age Norms" by Lee Yun Kyung of KIHASA; "Understanding the Perception of Generational Conflicts and Public Policies: Age and Class Differences" by Namkung Eun Ha of KIHASA; "Social Awareness of Population Issues and Its Implications" by Chin Hwa Young of KIHASA; and "the Status of Residential Welfare Facilities for Senior Citizens and Its Policy Implications" by Kang Eunna of KIHASA.

The abstracts of these articles are as follows:

"Social Attitudes toward Family Formation in and outside of Marriage in Korea" by Byoun Soo-Jung

The purpose of this article is to examine people's attitudes toward family formation in and outside of marriage. Using data from the “2020 Survey of Public Perceptions and Values toward Policy Responses to Low Fertility and Aging Society', this study looks at people’s perceptions of the changing patterns of marriage and family formation―living together and raising children without marriage, for example―and highlights the need for alternatives to legal marriage. A cohabiting relationship between an adult man and an adult woman outside of marriage has been gaining increasing social acceptance. However, whereas 65.7% of respondents found cohabitation acceptable as a prelude to marriage, only 36.9% thought it acceptable for a couple to live together without intending to get married. This shows that cohabitation is more often accepted as a stage in the marriage process. Many respondents also thought the current institution of marriage is behind the times and felt the need for a system to protect cohabiting couples. These were sentiments widely shared especially among those in their 20’s and 30’s, who are more likely to benefit from marriage-related systems in the future. The majority of people responded that there were still many prejudices in Korean society about having and raising children without getting married. Nevertheless, there was a consensus that support for children should be equally provided regardless of whether or not the parents are married. In terms of protecting children born outside of marriage, the need for alternatives to marriage needs to be emphasized. It is time to consider making institutional changes in accord with changing society.

"Social Perceptions of Family Functions, Gender Roles and Responsibilities" by Kim Eun Jung

This article is an analysis of family functions and values based on findings from the 2020 Survey of Public Perceptions and Values toward Policy Responses to Low-fertility and Aging Society, conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2020. The most important among family functions turned out to be emotional support through communication between family members. Young people, single people, and individuals without children perceived emotional support as the most important of the family functions. Reproductive function was regarded as less important. In addition, traditional gender roles and responsibilities were no longer viewed as universal social norms, and estimates of family gender equality were lower in women than in men. One of the findings is that the reality has not changed in keeping with the rapid changes in the way people view gender roles and responsibilities within the family. In the future, family policies should be able to support the emotional function of family and equal roles and responsibilities in parenting and housekeeping.

"Social Perceptions of Age and Age Norms" by Lee Yun Kyung

This article examines the public's perception of age standards that divide life course into different stages, including childhood, youth and old age, and determine the appropriateness of these standards as used in laws, policies and institutions. This article also aims to examine the level of public consent to age norms in family, workplace, and society, and social awareness of discrimination against youth and the elderly. The findings suggest that people in Korea generally perceive children as persons 12 years of age or younger; youth were perceived as young adults aged 35 or younger; and old age was perceived to start at 70 years of age. The public’s perception of the age at which a person is considered a young adult is similar to the definition of youth as used in the Basic Youth Act. Between the public’s perception and the Child Welfare Act there was a considerable gap in the age at which a person is no longer considered a child. Various policies in Korea consider people age 65 and older as the elderly. Age norms still existed for such significant life-course transitions as family formation (marriage and childbirth) and career development (job search and promotion), but the norms for the age at which one should assume the role of a senior citizen were relatively weak. In addition, the level of perception of age norms and age discrimination varied across respondents of different age groups. As the proportion of the elderly population increases and life expectancy increases in the future, further efforts will be required to achieve an age-integrated society that ensures age flexibility and age diversity.

"Understanding the Perception of Generational Conflicts and Public Policies: Age and Class Differences" by Namkung Eun Ha

This paper presents a summary of the findings on the general public’s perception of intergenerational conflicts and age-related policies (based on the 2020 Survey of Public Perception and Values toward Policy Responses to Low-fertility and Aging Society). About 76.5% of respondents found that the chance of intergenerational interactions decreased over time, while 39.1% pointed to the lack of intergenerational interactions as a main cause of generational conflicts. Also, 82.1% of respondents thought that the state’s care burden grew with the aging of the population. More than half viewed that older workers were less productive than younger workers and were keeping young people from entering the labor market. The findings suggest that public and private entities need to implement programs to strengthen intergenerational communication and improve the general public’s perception of older workers and productive aging, with a view to reducing intergenerational conflicts and achieving an age-integrated society.

"Social Awareness of Population Issues and Its Implications" by Chin, Hwa Young

With its total fertility rate remaining consistently below 1.3 since 2001, Korea is facing the serious issue of rapid population decline. Using data from the “2020 Survey of Public Perception and Values toward Policy Responses to Low-fertility and Aging Society”, this article examines the perceptions people have of the issue of rapid population decline and discusses what might cause a future demographic cliff and what should be done to prevent it. Results from the survey revealed that respondents found their lives affected more by the growth of the elderly population that by declining births (low fertility). Respondents also saw policies on the aging population as having more impact on their lives than policies on low fertility. Population decline and population concentration in the metropolitan region were generally perceived as “sort of social problems.” Based on these results, this article proposes to implement continuous monitoring and review of population changes and to work toward raising the quality of life for people by building, with a balanced policy mix of mitigation and adaptation, the basis for life-cycle care and income support.

"The Status of Residential Welfare Facilities for Senior Citizens and Its Policy Implications" by Kang Eunna

Various policy measures have been taken to help older people age in place. This article examined the current state of and challenges facing residential welfare facilities for senior citizens, a housing alternative for the elderly in need of residential mobility. In order to do this, this study analyzed some of the important changes that occurred in elderly residential welfare facilities, by using data for the years 2012 to 2019. In addition, with survey data gained from a 2019 survey, the author examined the operation of residential welfare facilities for senior citizens and the life of residents in those facilities. Based on its findings, this study suggests improving services for frail older persons, strengthening support for recruiting workers, and changing the physical environments of elderly welfare facilities.