The primary purspose of this research is to produce statistics on poverty and inequality in Korea, using the most reliable source of data on household income in the country. Measured at 50% of the median income, the poverty rate in the second quarter of 2018 is 20.3% when based on market income, and 15.7% when based on disposable income. On a quarterly basis, the poverty rate in 2018 was higher than that in 2017. The poverty ratio based on consumption has continuously increased since 2012. The Gini coefficient in the second quarter of 2018 was 0.379 when measured with market income and 0.324 when measured with disposable income. The Gini coefficient in 2018 was higher than that in 2017. This study presents time-series data on poverty rates, inequality, and middle-class incidators, which can be accessed for guidance when searching for ways to improve Korea's social security. Also, policy makers, researchers, and students can make use of the coutcomes of our analysis for various practical and academic purposes.
Abstract ················································································································1
Notes ·················································································································5
Ch 1. Introduction ·······················································································15
A. Background and Purpose ·································································17
B. Methods Used to Produce Poverty Statistics ···············································································18
C. The Contents of the 2018 Yearbook ····························································28
Ch 2. Distribution of Poverty and the Middle Class ···························································29
A. Relative Poverty ···························································································31
B. Distribution of the Middle Class ························································································56
Ch 3. Poverty by Population Subgroup ····································································69
A. Poverty by Age Category ··················································································71
B. Elderly Poverty ······························································································79
C. Child Poverty ······························································································86
D. Employee Poverty ···························································································93
E. Female-Headed Household Poverty ···········································································100
F. Lone-Parent Household Poverty ·········································································107
G. Single Household Poverty ·······················································································114
Ch 4. Inequality ···················································································119
A. Income Share Ratio ···························································································121
B. Decile Distribution Ratio ···························································································139
C. Gini Coefficient ······························································································155
Ch 5. Distribution of Asset ················································································161
A. Asset Distribution by Income Decile ········································································163
B. Asset Distribution by Asset Decile ········································································167
C. Asset Distribution Index ·······················································································170
References ···························································································173
Appendices ································································································175
