South Koreans' Healthy Life Expectancy Declines for Three Consecutive Years… 'Living Longer, but Spending More Time in Poor Health'
According to a recent announcement by Statistics Korea, while the average life expectancy of South Koreans is increasing, the 'healthy life expectancy'—the period during which one actually lives in good health—has been declining for three years. This indicates that although medical advancements have extended lifespans, the time spent suffering from chronic illnesses or pain is growing longer.
Experts point to the aging population and the rising number of people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension as the primary causes of this phenomenon. In particular, many analyses suggest that a lack of exercise and irregular eating habits in busy modern life are making it difficult for people to manage their health.
The government has announced that it will strengthen chronic disease prevention programs and expand community-centered health management services to ensure a healthy life for its citizens. Furthermore, it plans to improve support systems to enable the early detection and management of diseases through regular screenings.
Individual effort is also crucial for increasing healthy life expectancy. Experts advise that regular exercise, a balanced diet, and routine health check-ups are the most reliable ways to prepare for a healthy old age.
In conclusion, moving beyond simply living a long life, 'how healthily we live' has become an important task for our society. When government policy support and individual healthy lifestyle habits are in harmony, the quality of life for South Koreans can be significantly improved.