KOREA JOURNAL OF POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Korea (Seoul) 33

JULY 1996 - VOLUME 25, NUMBER 1

97.33.1 - English - Sung-Jae CHOI, Department of Social Welfare, Seoul National University (Korea)

Aging and social policy in Korea (p. 1-26)

On the basis of the modernization theory of aging, this paper argues that the causal factors for the diminishing status of the elderly and consequent aging problems are basically societal rather than individual or familial. It then examines the present state of problems of elderly Koreans, analyzes existing social welfare provisions for the elderly and some problems in current policies. From these diagnoses, it emphasizes the role and the shared responsibility of the state to initiate an efficient and encompassing solution for the elderly problem, which will pave the desirable way for the Korean welfare state. (KOREA, AGED, SOCIAL SECURITY, SOCIAL POLICY)

97.33.2 - English - Ik Ki KIM, Department of Sociology, Dongguk University (Korea)

Demographic transition and population aging in Korea (p. 27-40)

This paper describes the process of population aging in conjunction with the demographic transition in Korea. Korea has recently experienced rapid decreases of both mortality and fertility, which have brought about the rapid process of population aging. The speed of the population aging in Korea is projected as one of the fastest in the world. Population aging brings about changing patterns of family composition, especially new trends of living arrangements of the elderly. Since the process of population aging in Korea, the proportion of living alone and that of living with spouse only have significantly increased. (KOREA, AGED, AGEING, DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSITION, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION)

97.33.3 - English - Gyoung-Hae HAN, Department of Home Economics, Seoul National University (Korea)

Tradition and modernity in the culture of aging in Korea (p. 41-58)

With rapid societal changes and demographic aging in recent Korea, cultural value system related with aging has been changing dramatically. Korea has become youth-centered society and cultural context of family life has been altered. In this paper, the nature of the changes in some of the major themes of the Korean culture is discussed. The various impacts of these changes on the status, role, and life style of the elderly people in contemporary Korea are also examined. The need to create a positive social attitude toward aging and cultural context friendly to the aged is discussed. (KOREA, AGED, AGEING, SOCIAL CHANGE, CULTURAL CHANGE)

97.33.4 - English - Ka-Oak RHEE, Department of Social Welfare, SungKongHoe University (Korea)

Familial and social contexts of aging in Korea (p. 59-82)

Based on the data of the nation-wide survey 'The Living Status of Korean Elderly' in 1994, this study examines the family relationship by analysing household size, living arrangements, and frequency of contacting family, and shows family care for the elderly by identifying their financial, physical and emotional support system. Out of the total aged respondents (2,058 aged 60 years and over) 41.0% (31.2% in urban areas and 54.0% in rural areas) live apart from their children. The highest proportion (21.7%) of the elderly see their separately living children once every three months. However, 44.3% of the elderly receive financial aid from their children as their main source of income. This study shows that the family still plays important and comprehensive roles in caring for the elderly, even though the function of family supports for the elderly has been weakened. (KOREA, AGED, HOUSEHOLD COMPOSITION, FAMILY LIFE, SOCIAL SECURITY)

97.33.5 - English - Kyu-Taik SUNG, Department of Social Work, Yonsei University (Korea)

Comparison of motivations for parent care between Koreans and Americans: A cross-cultural approach (p. 83-100)

This study compares filial motivations of Koreans with those of Americans and identifies cross-culturally equivalent, as well as country-specific types of filial motivations. Both groups cited 'affection/love', 'repayment/reciprocity', and 'filial responsibility/obligation' as major forms of motivation. Despite cultural differences, there are similarities between the two groups in the relative emphasis on these qualitative dimensions of parent care. In other kinds of motivation, the two groups are dissimilar. For the Koreans, filial respect, family harmony, and filial sacrifice emerge as outstanding forms of motivation. These forms are not cited by theAmericans. The reciprocity of the parent-child relationship, the influence of cultural traditions, and related issues are discussed in relation to filial motivation. (KOREA, UNITED STATES, AGED, PARENTS, CHILDREN, VALUE SYSTEMS, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS)

97.33.6 - English - Catherine JONES FINER, Comparative Social Policy, University of Birmingham (U.K.)

Ageing in industrial societies, East and West: A 'Western' comparative perspective (p. 101-122)

After introductory comments on the theme of 'ageing in east and west', this paper looks at trends in aging and responses to ageing over time, with particular reference to European experience. The evidence is reviewed in historical, cultural, religious, political and 'social political' perspective. Attention is drawn to the different patterns of experience and of policy responses characteristic of the different countries and regions within Europe both past and present. The paper concludes with a review of latest trends and prospects in 'community care', which could signal a seeming point of convergence between east and west. (DEVELOPED COUNTRIES, DEMOGRAPHIC AGEING, SOCIAL POLICY, COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS)

DECEMBER 1996 - VOLUME 25, NUMBER 2

97.33.7 - English - Sung Yong LEE, Sungkyunkwan University (Korea)

Sex preference versus number preference: The case of Korea (p. 235-267)

This paper examines whether son preference has a strong positive effect on fertility rates via number preference. To test this hypothesis, Korea was used as a case because Korea still shows strong son preference but its fertility rates have reached below replacement level. The hazard models with unobserved heterogeneity were used to analyze the relationship between sex preference and number preference. To reject the strong positive effect of sex preference on total fertility rates, number preference must be distinguished from sex preference. Statistical analysis shows that the existence of a son has a stronger effect of son preference may not have a significant effect on fertility rates since the probability of having only daughters becomes lower as the parities increase. The total fertility rate is defined as the sum of the hypothetical age-specific fertility rates of women, rather than the sum of the real age-specific fertility rates. If there are some important factors occuring the differences between the hypothetical age-specific fertility rates and the real age-specific fertility rates, the total fertility rates may be wrong. Because of increased birth intervals and late ages at marriage, it is difficult to say that the fertility rates below the replacement level since the late 1980 are a permanent phenomenon. In spite of the existence of strong son preference, the ideal (or desired) number of children have decreased in Korea. Moreover, the means to control the number of children, such as abortions, have been supported by the Korean government policies. Through sex-selective technologies, abnormally higher sex ratios at birth have occurred since 1985. (KOREA, SEX PREFERENCE, FERTILITY DECLINE, DESIRED FAMILY SIZE)

97.33.8 - English - Joon Kium KIM, University of California, Berkeley (U.S.A.). E-mail : joonkkim@uclink.berkeley.edu

An international labour migration to developing countries in Asia: A case study of Korea (p. 287-332)

International labour migration has been an essential feature of capitalist development throughout the world. In the past ten to fifteen years, the newly industrializing economies in Asia underwent a historical change from labour exporter to labour importer status. While structural changes have provided the context for such unprecedented reversal in labour migration, the flow of international labour migration (ILM) is directly mediated by contradictory and flexible state policies. Unlike the past labour migration from underdeveloped to developed regions of the world, the recent labour migration to develoing countries in Asia reveals that the illegalization of foreign labourers is an integral part of their temporary labour importation schemes. Based on a survey research in Korea, this paper points out the inadequacies of existing labour migration theories in explaining labour migration to developing countries in Asia, identifies unique features of labour migration to developing countries, and brings to light specific state strategies for maintaining control over both legal and illegal labourers. (KOREA, LABOUR MIGRATION, INTERNATIONAL MIGRATION, MIGRANT STATUS)

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