The youth in their 50s

Novelist Park Wan-suh (1931-2011) began her career after winning the long work contest at "Women Dong-A" in 1970 with "Namok." She debuted at age 40, which became the talk of the town, since previous star authors emerged in their 20s or below. Poet Kim So-wol started his literary career when he was 18 years old and published poetical work "Azalea." Novelist Choi In-hoon began writing at age 23, and announced "Kwangjang" the following year in 1960.

How does Korea categorize youth? The current special law for youth employment promotion stipulates it as age 15-29, while a revised bill to extend the age to 34 is pending in the National Assembly. For political parties, youth is age 45 and below for the leading Saenuri Party and main opposition Minjoo Party, and age 40 and below for another opposition People's Party. Party members in their 20s complain they are moved back by the youth in their 40s who yield their power.

Does this phenomenon suggest that those in their 40s and 50s are youths in a different meaning than those in their 20s? Comedian Kim Kuk-jin and singer Kang Su-ji recently admitted they have started dating as they fell in love while in TV entertainment program "Burning Youth." A seminar will hosted by Seoul Institute titled Seoul's Future and Seoul's Choice on Tuesday will unveil a content that Seoul's median age will become 52 by 2040. This means that if people living in Seoul are lined up, the person in the middle is now aged 39 but will be 52 after 24 years. This is due to aging population and low birth rate. In rural areas, those in their 50s have long been classified as the most youngest.

A change in median age due to demographic changes will inevitably bring about different definition for senior people. People are normally regarded as senior when they are 65 years old and over, but the basic pension recipients are those who are 65 years old and over, while housing pension recipients 60 years old and over. Some critics argue that the criteria for becoming senior people should be raised to 70, but conclusion will not come easy. With average life span extending, people are starting to agonize over a new era and new life. The essence of life doesn't change even if the criteria age for young and elderly people change. The fact remains that today is the most important day of our life.

고미석기자 mskoh119@donga.com