By It is amazing when you think about it when you consider all the history these people have lived through from the Japanese colonial period, World War II, the Korean War, military dictatorships, North Korean provocation, etc. to be able to live to be 100 years old:
The country is seeing a rise in the number of its oldest citizens. According to the ministry, 684 people turned 100 in 2007, increasing to 927 this year. Among the 927 new centenarians, 765 are women and 162 are men. The number of men turning 100 decreased from last year’s 212. The ministry says there are currently 2,862 centenarians in total in Korea.
To honor Korea’s 927 new centenarians, the ministry said it would gift each of them a walking stick. It will also recognize 166 senior citizens who have contributed to the welfare of senior citizens at ceremony marking the 15th International Day of Older Persons. [Joong Ang Ilbo]
11:11 pm on October 2nd, 2011 1
“To honor Korea’s 927 new centenarians, the ministry said it would gift each of them a walking stick.”
That’s a PR move aimed at giving the impression that Koreans are living longer healthier lives. In fact, a great number of the elderly live in poverty, especially the eldest ones who had no kids who outlived them, and receive very little support from the government for the simple fact that often the government doesn’t know they are still alive nor do they know where they reside. In any case, few people that old can still walk, so the walking stick might be seen as a cruel joke by some of them who still have all their wits. I’m saying because three of my granparents lived to be nearly 100 years old. The only one who was still able to walk and had all his wits when he died was my grandfather who was extremely athletic (he was still playing baseball regularly in mid 80′s and going hunting in his late 80′s).
8:35 am on October 3rd, 2011 2
Teadrinker, was your grandfather Korean? If so, did he live in the countryside? I ask this because I don’t know if it’s the farmer’s lifestyle or what but my grandmother is currently 95 years old and she still climbss up the hills better than I can. Back when my grandfather died at 80, we all agreed that our grandmother could very well live to 100.