• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.42
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• pp.169-198
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• 2000

This paper attempts to analyze the early retirement in the OECD countries and discuss implication of that in the old age policy in Korea. The increase of the early retirement in the almost all OECD countries is a common fact. Especially the rate of early retirement rapidly increased in the 1980s, mostly reflecting the high rate of unemployment and states' policies to reduce it. However, it varies across countries: the unemployment compensation pathway in France, the mixture of social assistance and private insurance in England, VUT in Netherland, the privatization of the early retirement in the U. S., and partial retirement and labor market policy in Sweden. The early retirement in the advanced countries contributes to de-institutionalization and de-standardization in life course model. It resulted in the erosion of the ordinary conception that the retirement was the beginning of the old age. And the last phase of life course became blurred. With respect to the problem of the early retirement, there is a big difference between Korea and the OECD countries. Above all, the retirement age is 55 years in many companies and the public pension is not universalized in Korea. Accordingly the policy for income security of the old age in Korea should be connected with social security policy such as the gradual extension of the retirement age and the expansion of the public pension and labor market policy such as job training for the old age, transformation of the seniority wage system etc.

• Journal of Family Resource Management and Policy Review
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.95-114
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• 2009

This study compared demographic, economic and career characteristics between a traditional retirement group and a gradual retirement group. From the 2005 Korean Retirement and Income Study (KReIS), 780 traditional retirees and 265 gradual retirees were selected. A t-test, chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were completed. The findings of this study were as follows: First, there are gender and age differences between the traditional retirement group and the gradual retirement group. The gradual retirement group has a high proportion of male workers and older workers compared to the traditional retirement group. Second, members of the traditional retirement group have more income, more assets and less debt than members of the gradual retirement group; therefore, their financial structure is comparatively stable. Third, there is a large percentage of blue-collar workers (e.g., technical service, repair, operatives) in the gradual retirement group. Members of the gradual retirement group had worked for a shorter period during their career and had a lower wage rate than members of the traditional retirement group. Finally, male workers who are in their 60s and 70s, who do not have a public transfer income but have a higher level of career income, and are older when they end their career, are less likely to retire gradually. As they also have a higher level of debt, the probability of these workers selecting a gradual retirement route is high.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Culture
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.289-298
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• 2002

This study was conducted to find sensitive indicator of food intake and specific food group related to cognitive function and to analyze the pathway among factors affecting food intake and cognitive function of the aged. 179 people over 50 years old were investigated and all the data were analyzed by SPSS 10.0 package. Food frequency was more sensitive indicator to show the relationship between food intake and cognitive function of the aged than the numbers of standard amount of food eaten. Consumption of grains and starch, meat, fish, eggs and beans were strongly related to cognitive function of the aged and intake of vegetables and fruits also have relationship with it. Moreover, the more frequent eating the carbohydrate and the protein, the higher the cognitive level of the aged. Age, education period, income, blood pressure, duration after retirement, frequency of physical activity and BMI were correlated with food intake and cognitive function of the aged. Among them, age and frequency of physical activity were most strongly correlated with food intake, and education period with cognitive function of them. This investigation shows that more stable intake of carbohydrate and protein containing foods need to be supplied to low income aged and the importance of physical activity of the aged must be emphasized with food intake for better life of the aged.