The current coordinates of the Korean care regime

Abstract

Alarming demographic trends in Korea, particularly an unprecedented decrease in the fertility rate and an acceleration in the ageing rate, have been viewed as emerging social risks since the late 1990s. The necessity to address the consequences of these trends led to important political changes in recent decades, which have had major financial and operational impacts on the Korean care regime. The state has increased its financing of care services. Operationally, there has been a shift to “socialization of care” through vitalization of markets. Despite these important changes, the burden of care is still shouldered by families, and the priorities established by government policy have created winners and losers, depending on the type of care needed. Moreover, coverage limitations in Long-Term Care Insurance elder care services have done little to improve the financial hardship of those who require services. Extra (fee-based) programs offered by child care services have also increased the financial demand on families.