韓國將公佈人口政策藍圖，迎接「超老化」社會

這番言論是在政府數據顯示韓國 65 歲以上人口達到 1,024 萬人之後發表的。

South Korea has formally become a "super-aged" society, with people aged 65 or older now accounting for over 20 per cent of the country's total population, the latest government data showed Friday.

週五最新的政府數據顯示，韓國已正式進入「超老化」社會，65歲或以上的人口目前佔全國總人口的20%以上。

The United Nations classifies countries where more than 7 per cent of the population is 65 or older as an aging society, those with over 14 per cent as an aged society, and those with more than 20 per cent as a super-aged society.

聯合國將65歲以上人口比例超過7%的國家劃分為老齡化社會，將人口比例超過14%的國家劃分為老齡社會，將人口比例超過20%的國家劃分為超老齡社會。

According to the data from Statistics Korea, the number of senior citizens in the country stood at 10.24 million as of December 1, up 250,000 from a year earlier.

韓國統計局的數據顯示，截至12月1日，韓國老年人口數量為1,024萬人，較去年同期增加25萬人。

The figure marks a sharp increase from 7.23 million in 2018, when South Korea first became an aged society.

這一數字較2018年韓國首次進入高齡化社會時的723萬人大幅增加。

The rapidly aging population is largely attributed to a sustained low birth rate and increasing life expectancy.

人口迅速老化很大程度上歸因於持續的低出生率和不斷增長的預期壽命。

The total fertility rate -- the average number of children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime -- stood at 0.74 in the first half of this year, far below the replacement level of 2.1 needed to keep the population stable.

今年上半年，總和生育率（女性一生平均生育子女數）為 0.74，遠低於維持人口穩定所需的 2.1 更替水準。

Meanwhile, the average life expectancy at birth rose to a record high of 83.58 years in 2022, up 0.34 years from the previous year.

同時，2022年出生時平均壽命升至83.58歲，創歷史新高，比前一年提高0.34歲。

The presidential committee on ageing society and population policy said the government will come up with a demographic policy blueprint in the near future.

總統高齡化社會與人口政策委員會表示，政府將在近期制定人口政策藍圖。

"Considering the unprecedented and faster-than-expected pace of aging, we do not have much time," said Joo Hyung-hwan, vice chairman of the committee.

該委員會副主席朱亨煥（Joo Hyung-hwan）表示：“考慮到前所未有且快於預期的老化速度，我們沒有太多時間。”

"We will promptly come up with actions so that the country does not miss the timing."

“我們將迅速採取行動，以免國家錯過時機。”

Joo added it was noteworthy that the country has been showing signs of a recovery in its critically low birth rate.

Joo補充說，值得注意的是，該國極低的出生率已顯示出復甦的跡象。

The number of babies born in South Korea increased at the fastest rate in 14 years in October.

10月份韓國出生嬰兒數量增幅為14年最快。

A total of 21,398 babies were born in October, up 13.4 per cent from the 18,878 newborns a year earlier. It marked the largest on-year increase since November 2010, when the number of childbirths grew by 17.5 per cent.

10月共有21,398名新生兒出生，較去年同期的18,878名新生兒增加13.4%。這是自 2010 年 11 月以來的最大年增幅，當時的分娩人數增加了 17.5%。

"The total fertility rate for this year is expected to reach 0.74, far above the previous estimate of 0.68," Joo said, noting such figures are a "hopeful signal" for the country's demographic challenges.

Joo表示：「今年的總生育率預計將達到0.74，遠高於先前估計的0.68。」他指出，這些數字是該國人口挑戰的「充滿希望的信號」。

The vice chairman went on to say that the government will continue to expand support for families and pregnant women, and come up with measures to help women balance work and family life.

副主席接著表示，政府將繼續擴大對家庭和孕婦的支持，並制定措施幫助婦女平衡工作和家庭生活。

"We will also strengthen efforts to improve the quality of life for senior citizens and create a society where they can age healthily and happily," he added. (Yonhap)

他補充說：“我們還將加強改善老年人的生活質量，創造一個健康快樂的老年社會。” （韓聯社）