Mr. President,

In these momentous times when a demographic revolution is unfolding around the world, it gives me great honor to address the Second World Assembly on Ageing on behalf of the Government of the Republic of Korea.

With a rapid expansion of the elderly in the population configuration, thanks to the ever-rising life expectancy and improvements in the physical conditions of every-day living, population ageing has become a prominent item on national and international agendas.  In this regard, the Second World Assembly on Ageing comes at a pivotal juncture.  My delegation has every expectation that the Assembly will produce an outcome, the Political Declaration and the International Plan of Action on Ageing 2002, that will effectively guide our efforts in dealing with the complex issues that ageing societies must face. 

Today's elderly are those who have dedicated their lives to the development of their societies and countries.   Theirs was a generation of great sacrifice to causes far beyond their own personal welfare.  We owe to them effective policies that will assist them to lead independent lives, to find fulfillment and continue active participation in society, and to maintain their human dignity.  For those who need help, for economic, health and other reasons, adequate protection should be provided.

Mr. President,

The Republic of Korea is an ageing society.  In the year 2000, the elderly accounted for 7.2% of the national population.  By 2019, the figure is expected to exceed 14%.  The speed of population ageing in Korea will be much faster than in the developed countries.  The need for effective policies to deal with the challenge of ageing takes on an added urgency with each passing year.  Accordingly, my Government has been developing and implementing a number of policies for the elderly, designed to  enhance the quality of life for the people in general while at the same time promoting sustainable socio-economic development.

The basic direction has been to provide for healthy and economically stable lives to the elderly through the strengthening of the necessary social infrastructure which can support the care-giving role of the family. 

In the process, there have been some milestones.  In 1981,  the Older Persons Welfare Act was enacted.  In 1991, to mark the International Year of Older Persons, a long-term plan was established in preparation for the 21st century ageing society.  The government office in charge of elderly welfare and health was established and expanded, and the budget allocated to older persons has steadily increased. 

The medical assistance to the elderly is incorporated into the nation-wide  health insurance system. The elderly in poverty are given additional subsidies for free medical care. Currently, to meet the rising cost of medicine to society and ease the growing burden on families resulting from the ageing population, we are studying ways to introduce a system of insurance for long-term care for the elderly. 

Since 1988 we also have in place a national pension system. And for older persons who are excluded from the pension system, the government gives out monetary allowances from 1991. The basic livelihood for the poor is protected by the Basic Livelihood Protection Act. 

The government has steadily expanded public facilities to enable older persons to enjoy their leisurely time, such as community centers for senior citizens.  One noticeable recent trend has been the various initiatives of older persons themselves, who are coming together to create clubs and support groups for volunteer activities as well as income-generation programmes.

We have also concentrated on expanding Skilled Nursing Homes for the aged with dementia or paralysis, and on providing Home Care Services such as dispatching home care service personnel (nurses) and establishing day care centers for older persons.

Furthermore, at this critical juncture where the curtain unfolds  an age of modern technology and new cultural revolution, the Korean Government has duly expanded the existing cultural program for older persons to include access to the internet, traditional instruments, and to various other facilities; such program, we are certain, will not only better prepare older persons to meet the challenges of the 21st century but also encourage active social participation.

On behalf of my Government, I can fully assure you that the Korean Government is doing her best in building a "society for all ages", in which older persons are ensured of dignified and active life.

We must all bear in mind that regardless of differences in nationalities, older persons should not be perceived as persons merely to be protected, but as valuable human resources as well as active contributors to society. In this sense, the quandary left for the 21st century, I believe, is to come up with a solution to how to mobilize the ready-available resources effectively, while simultaneously respecting their needs.

In this respect, my delegation applauds the timely convening of this Second World Assembly dedicated to deal with the ageing issue, which I am sure will serve as historic milestone for not only nations and governments but also for international organizations and academic institutions.  I would also like to assure you that the Republic of Korea will continue to fully endorse the unyielding effort of the international community to respond to the problem of ageing.

As a final word, allow me to express my deep gratitude to the United Nations for taking the initiative to address the global ageing problem and to the Government of Spain for graciously agreeing to host the World Assembly here in Madrid.  My delegation is confident that this Assembly will produce tangible and lasting results.

Thank you.