Survey: 6 in 10 South Koreans back raising senior benefit age to 70

A Gallup Korea poll released Thursday found that 59 percent of South Koreans support raising the legal age threshold for senior welfare benefits from 65 to 70, as a rapidly aging population strains government programs, The Korea Times reported.

The results, reported by The Korea Times, reflect a decade-long shift in South Korean public opinion as the country's share of residents aged 65 and older climbed from 4.1 percent in 1984 — when key senior entitlements were created — to 20.3 percent in 2025, pushing programs like a free subway system toward fiscal crisis.

The poll, conducted April 28-30, found 30 percent of respondents opposed raising the age threshold and 12 percent had no opinion, according to The Korea Times. Support has grown steadily from 46 percent in 2015 to 60 percent in 2023.

Age-group breakdowns show the sharpest divide between younger and older Koreans. Respondents in their 30s recorded the highest support at 65 percent, while those in their 60s — who stand to lose benefits soonest under any change — showed the lowest support, at 55 percent, The Korea Times reported. By political affiliation, progressive respondents backed the proposal at 68 percent, compared with 61 percent of moderates and 59 percent of conservatives.

A separate finding underscored shifting attitudes toward government responsibility: 60 percent of respondents said retirees should cover their own living costs, while only 29 percent said the government should bear that burden, according to The Korea Times.

Budget Minister Park Hong-keun said free subway rides for seniors "cause about 450 billion won ($305 million) in losses each year in Seoul alone," The Korea Times reported. "The policy was introduced when the elderly population was relatively small, but Korea is now entering a super-aged era," Park said. He added that discussions on raising the legal age for senior benefits would continue.

South Korea introduced the free subway program for seniors in 1984, when people aged 65 and older accounted for just 4.1 percent of the population. By 2025 that share had reached 20.3 percent. The Korea Times noted that Paris now restricts free transit to seniors aged 65 and older earning under 2,200 euros a month, and Japan directs similar support to lower-income residents aged 70 and older.

Budget Minister Park has signaled that government discussions on raising the legal senior age will continue, though no timeline for formal policy changes has been announced, according to The Korea Times.