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Korean Elderly Live Happier in New York than in Korea
The Chosus Ilbo
South Korea
August 25, 2004
It has been learned that older Korean people living in New York live a happier life than those in Korea.
Professor Lee Ju-il from the Hallim Institute of Aging Society carried out a survey last March and April to 1,576 people of ages 60 and up in both Korea and New York with the help of Korean Community Services of New York -- 1,322 people in Korean cities and 254 people in New York.
About their level of life satisfaction, 16.4 percent of New York Koreans answered that they are happy now as they were when they were young, but only 5.7 percent of Korean people answered thusly.
Asked if living was difficult, 10.6 percent of New York Koreans said yes, but 15.4 percent of Koreans said yes. 36.6 percent of Korean elderly said life wasn't worth living, but only 14.2 percent of New York Korean elderly said so.
More than half of the Koreans (50.3 percent) felt lonely and 25.9 percent answered that they felt sad. Only 32.7 percent of New York Koreans felt lonely and 15.1 percent of them felt sad.
On the other hand, Koreans (21 percent) are more satisfied than New Yorkers (9.9 percent) in terms of sex life.
This result seems to relate with the satisfaction rate in everyday life. In fact, 23.7 percent and 25.3 percent of New Yorkers said they were satisfied with the medical care and welfare system, but only 8.4 percent and 2.7 percent of Koreans said the same.
Asked who should take responsibility of them when they are sick, 56.5 percent of Koreans said their children, but 41.7 percent of New Yorkers said the state. Only 7 percent of them said their children.
Professor Lee said, "Despite the language and new environment problem, people living in the U.S. feel much happier than people living in Korea. I reckon that various welfare systems supported by the government is the most important factor for happiness."
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