South Korea Faces Eldercare Crisis as Foreign Workers Enter Troubled Market

South Korea's rapidly aging society is grappling with a critical demographic challenge: who will care for its growing elderly population? Government data projects a significant deficit, estimating a need for approximately 116,000 eldercare workers by 2028 and a further 990,000 by 2043.

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Although stereotypes against caregivers have subsided, the job remains difficult compared with other careers.

However, the situation is complex. Nearly 2.3 million people hold caregiver qualifications but are not currently employed in the sector, according to the care workers' union. This paradox leads experts and workers to question whether the issue is a lack of qualified individuals or a lack of sufficiently attractive jobs within the caregiving field.

In response, policymakers are increasingly looking towards foreign talent. The government is actively creating pathways for international students to train as caregivers and remain in South Korea for work. This strategy aims to alleviate the projected worker shortage in a country officially recognized as a "super-aged society."

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We keep telling authorities that there needs to be better treatment.

Yet, a fundamental question remains: if low pay and challenging working conditions deter qualified South Koreans from entering or staying in the profession, will these same jobs prove appealing to the foreign workers being recruited? Care work, despite its societal importance, is often poorly compensated and undervalued, offering limited career progression and demanding workloads. Jeon Hyun-wook, head of a care workers' union, highlighted that caregivers are typically paid around minimum wage, with little recognition for experience and unavoidable night shifts and overtime. This situation, he argues, explains why many qualified individuals avoid the field, emphasizing the need for better treatment and compensation.

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There are a great many Koreans who hold caregiver qualifications.