ABSTRACT
Introduction Few would dispute the importance of population ageing in society and its impact on designing and reforming social provisions. This chapter takes the case of Korea and examines the extent to which the latest socio-economic and demographic changes have impacted on citizens, with particular reference to older people. It then discusses the relationship between population ageing and changes in the labour market, and the options available for policy makers with regard to the structure and financing of social provisions for people of retirement age. The section that follows charts the latest development in social provisions and presents the tensions that have shaped the introduction of those social provisions. The final section argues that the latest additions to social provisions are important signs of the strengthened role of the state in providing social policies in an era of uncertainty.
