50% of Korean feel belonging to lower class

About half of South Koreans perceive themselves as belonging to the lower income class, according to a recent report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs (KIHASA).

A survey of 1,000 adults conducted by KIHASA showed 50.5 percent of respondents said they believed they earned below average.

The poll was conducted in 16 cities and provinces across the country last month.

Some 36.9 percent replied that they lived in an average-income household, while only 10.5 percent considered themselves to be high income earners.

The findings reflect the continued shrinking of the middle class that started during the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. According to official statistics, the ratio of the middle class reached 75.4 percent in 1990. But fell to 71.7 percent in 2000, 69.2 percent in 2005 and 67.5 percent in 2010.

As for the current welfare system, 45 percent answered it was average, 28.2 percent said they were unsatisfied with it, while 18.4 percent said they were satisfied.

The unsatisfied answers came more from younger men and women. Those in their 20s were least satisfied with the welfare policies and those in their 40s were most satisfied.

The dissatisfaction rate of families with children aged up to five was highest with 34.7 percent which was above the national average of 28.3 percent.

Of the categories, dissatisfaction in health and welfare was highest with 44.5 percent followed by measures against poverty with 32.7 percent, childcare 30.3 percent, and welfare for the elderly at 20.4 percent.

They answered that what the new government should focus on the most was increasing the number of jobs, reducing medical cost, supporting low-income families and providing more childcare.

By age group, those in their 30s want more support for childcare and those in their 50s and 60s want support for the elderly and lower medical fees. Those in their 20s and 40s want more job opportunities.

Ironically, only 40 percent were actually willing to pay more tax to receive more welfare benefits. Others were either satisfied with the current tax level or demanded that it be lowered.

Although many respondents requested lower medical fees at hospitals, 46.1 percent were not willing to pay more national health insurance as a means to lower the hospital cost.

Those in the middle to higher income families were willing to pay more tax for benefits whereas those in the lower income class said they were willing to cope with fewer benefits and pay less tax.

“People seem burdened with paying tax and tend to think that the benefits from welfare are not reaching them,” the report said. <The Korea Times/Yun Suh-young>