The government announced that according to the 2024 population statistics analysis, the total population will be 51.22 million, of which 10.24 million will be elderly people aged 65 or older, accounting for more than 20% of the total population, indicating that Korea has entered a super-aged society according to the United Nations (UN) standards. The registered resident population has shown a continuous decrease of 110,000 people per year for the past five years, and the number of births was 240,000. Korea's total fertility rate in 2024 was 0.7, the lowest in the world. In terms of the number of household members, single-person households (approximately 10.12 million households, 41.97%) were found to be the largest group.

As the phenomenon of hyper-aging deepens and the birth rate decreases, the population structure of the younger generation is expected to continue to be inverted due to the population decline. As the economy shrinks amidst limited resources and fierce competition, and as the impact of artificial intelligence on human life increases, the transition to a shrinking economy society is expected to accelerate. As the elderly population increases and public expenses skyrocket, society itself is becoming hyper-aged, and a shrinking society with only increasing costs has begun, and it is expected that the pain will be felt within a few years, so we need to prepare for this.

We have overcome the physical and intellectual limitations of humans through the industrial revolution. Now, AI is taking over people's jobs, starting with office work, and replacing humans. The 21st century is a disciplinary society where people are forced to obey, and modern people who are both management and performance-oriented in a performance-oriented society tend to abuse themselves and fight a war with themselves when they realize that they can no longer do anything. In the process, social diseases such as depression and panic disorder are spreading.

Care refers to an act of maintaining or promoting a healthy life and helping to restore health. Most people want to be recipients of care and are reluctant to perform the role of caregivers. Now is the time to gather wisdom to restore the lost value of care. The local community must become a care community, and institutions and systems support are also needed so that each resident can take care of themselves. Above all, by recognizing that each resident is the subject of responsibility and duty for care, we must create a dignified care society through personal and emotional health training and self-care training.

Smart care has recently attracted a lot of attention, and the government and local governments are expanding smart care services for households at risk of isolation. This service uses artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies to periodically check on the well-being of households and individuals at risk of isolation. The goal is to respond quickly to crisis situations and provide customized support to them. Among the core technologies required for an aging society and care services, attention is needed on healthcare technology. Telemedicine technology that increases accessibility to medical care and reduces the burden of visiting medical institutions, wearable devices (smartwatches, smart clothing, etc.) that monitor heart rate, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. in real time, and nursing robots and rehabilitation robots that help the elderly should be actively utilized.

A caring society where people can take care of themselves and others requires attention and consideration that listens to each other while keeping the line. I hope that the government's subsidies and insurance system, the private sector's technology development and commercialization capabilities will come together to prepare for a shrinking society and open up a smart caring society where residents can cry and laugh together.

Jang Geum-yong, CEO of Medilogis Co., Ltd.