Sprightly elderly crowded KINTEX Hall No. 3 in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday, when an annual expo on businesses related to the care and welfare of seniors and people with disabilities kicked off its three-day run.

At this year’s SENDEX, more than 100 companies in the geriatrics business are showcasing their latest products and services for seniors and people with disabilities.

The Korea Health Industry Development Institute will coordinate meetings between participating companies and 12 foreign buyers, enabling them to explore business expansion and export opportunities. The institute, in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, held a seminar Wednesday to introduce the government’s regulatory policies for this business area. 

The visitors can explore the National Health Insurance Service’s long-term care insurance system. The insurance system guarantees medical services and financial support for the long-term care of seniors over 65 who have difficulty carrying out daily tasks for more than six months or have been diagnosed with diseases of old age.

South Korea is one of the most rapidly aging countries in the world and it is expected to become a super-aged society -- where people aged 65 or over make up more than 20 percent of the population -- in 2025. It became an aged society last year, with the percentage of people over 65 reaching 14.4 percent.


By Choi Ji-won (jwc@heraldcorp.com)