[Interview] "Seniors as Pillars of the Community, Not Just Welfare Recipients"... Jaewan Cho, President of Saesidae Senior Citizens Association Gyeongnam Headquarters

Official Launch Ceremony at Changwon Munseong University on November 3

Self-Reliance and Service Initiatives Led by 18 City and County Chapters

Expanding Senior Employment, Legal Counseling, Senior Newspaper, and Senior College Programs

"Senior citizens are not merely recipients of state welfare. They are proud members of society who can give back their accumulated experience and wisdom to their communities."

Jaewan Cho, President of the Saesidae Senior Citizens Association Gyeongsangnam-do Headquarters, emphasized in a recent interview with The Asia Business Daily that "the paradigm of senior welfare must shift from a focus on protection and charity to one centered on self-reliance, participation, service, and giving back."

Jaewan Cho, President of the Saesidae Senior Citizens Association Gyeongsangnam-do Chapter.

South Korea entered a super-aged society in December 2024, as residents aged 65 or older accounted for over 20% of the total registered population.

The Ministry of Data and Statistics forecasts that the proportion of the elderly population will exceed 30% by 2036.

The Saesidae Senior Citizens Association Gyeongnam Headquarters will kick off a new senior welfare movement together with 18 local chapters in Gyeongsangnam-do by holding an inaugural ceremony at the Changwon Munseong University Convention Hall at 2 p.m. on November 3.

President Cho stated, "Generations in their 60s and 70s, as well as those in their 80s and 90s, were the main drivers of Korea’s industrialization and modernization. However, after retirement, there is a lack of social roles and spaces for communication where they can utilize their experience and expertise." He added, "We will open a pathway for older adults to return their skilled labor and experience to society."

The Gyeongnam Headquarters plans to systematically identify the careers, qualifications, professional knowledge, and volunteer capabilities of the retired senior generation, and connect these to jobs and social contribution activities.

President Cho remarked, "If healthy seniors who are willing to work are given appropriate opportunities, not only will it invigorate their personal lives, but it can also greatly benefit the community."

◆ Operating a Free Legal Counseling Center for the Protection of Senior Workers' Rights

Plans are in place to provide counseling and support regarding labor and legal issues such as wage arrears, unfair dismissal, employment contracts, and industrial accidents.
He explained, "Alongside expanding job opportunities for seniors, we must also create an environment where working seniors receive fair treatment. We will work to ensure that seniors can respond to injustices and are not harmed merely because they lack legal knowledge or access to information."

◆ Promoting the 'Living Together Movement' Focused on Mutual Care Among Seniors

The initiative enables active seniors to check on the well-being of those living alone or elders with mobility challenges, and to offer assistance with everyday life and emotional support.
President Cho emphasized, "Senior challenges go beyond poverty and illness, encompassing loneliness and social isolation. A community where seniors care for one another can address the blind spots that public welfare fails to reach."
A 'Senior Newspaper' will also be published to facilitate intergenerational communication. This publication will document the lives and voices of seniors while providing practical information on employment, health, welfare, legal rights, and more.

◆ Running a 'Senior College' Program Covering Historical and Cultural Visits, Health Management, Well-Aging, and Humanities Education

The association also plans to gather the experience and wisdom of seniors on major social issues such as low birth rates, regional extinction, and peaceful unification.
The Gyeongnam Headquarters will continue discovering initiatives tailored to the unique characteristics of its 18 local chapters, and expand collaborative efforts with local governments, universities, corporations, and welfare organizations.

President Cho remarked, "The inaugural event in November is not the end of the journey, but the beginning of real action. Rather than grand slogans, we will create practical programs that seniors can personally participate in and tangibly benefit from, one at a time."

He further added, "The strength of the elderly does not come from weakened energy, but from the wisdom and experience accumulated over decades of life. I hope that a new movement, where seniors stand on their own and support their neighbors, will begin here in Gyeongnam and spread nationwide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.