In a rapidly aging society like Korea, it may be natural that the demographic change is accompanied by an increase in elderly crimes. What differentiates Korea from other major advanced nations is that it has seen a sharp rise in felonies committed by the elderly.
According to data released Sunday by the National Police Agency, the number of criminal offenses blamed on people aged 65 or above increased by 12 percent from 68,836 in 2011 to 77,260 in 2013. Their violent crimes such as murder, robbery, rape and arson jumped by nearly 40 percent from 759 to 1,062 over the cited period.
The increase in elderly crimes is usually attributed to financial difficulties and a feeling of isolation. Seniors’ improved physical conditions are also cited as a reason for the growing number of offenses.
Given these factors are common in most aging societies, one may well wonder why Korea has seen the increase in elderly crimes, particularly felonies, outpace the rapid growth in its aged population. From 2011 to 2013, Korea’s population aged 65 or older increased by 9.6 percent, the fastest pace in the 34-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
An explanation may be that Korean elderly men have more difficulty adapting to the demise of the patriarchal culture that has ensued the collapse of the traditional extended family system. This phenomenon, coupled with their short-tempered nature and anger with what they consider to be improper treatment, may prompt aged men to take extreme actions.
According to the police data, impulse was the most frequently cited motive behind violent crimes by the elderly, followed by impulses like curiosity and temptation. About 60 percent of elderly offenders did not have criminal records before committing their crimes.
But the more fundamental factor behind the steep rise in elderly crimes may be the lack of an effective social system to support them at a time when traditional family roles can no longer be counted on.
According to a study released by the Health and Welfare Ministry last year, about 48.6 percent of Koreans aged 65 or above lived in poverty as of 2011, the highest ratio among OCED member states. In a reflection of their hardships, nearly one-third of senior Koreans suffered from depression and about 10 percent of them thought of suicide. This feeling of helplessness and despair may easily turn into a criminal impulse.
Expanding welfare benefits for aged people in poverty and solitude is needed to help curb the upward trend in elderly crimes. This may not be an easy task for an aging society with a decreasing workforce. Effective policies need to be pursued to boost the overall productivity of the economy, accept more skillful immigrant workers and provide senior citizens with more opportunities to land proper jobs.
