Have you ever thought about how often you talk to your closest neighbors? In the past, it was common to see an elderly neighbor warmly greeting you when you opened your door, or community members celebrating each other's birthdays. However, in modern Korean society, such warm exchanges are increasingly rare. The rapid aging of the population, in particular, is quickly transforming the form and structure of the cities we live in. This article deeply explores the issue of an aging society faced by Korea and the necessity for urban design and policy changes it necessitates. Population aging is not merely about an increase in people's average age. It signifies that the entire social structure and function are undergoing changes, consequently requiring new approaches and restructuring in urban design. According to Statistics Korea, Korea entered a super-aged society (where the population aged 65 or older constitutes over 20% of the total) in 2025. Indeed, data released by Statistics Korea in 2024 showed that the proportion of the population aged 65 or older reached 19.2%, and by September 2025, it surpassed 20.6%, officially classifying Korea as a super-aged society. This transition took Korea only 18 years to move from an aged society to a super-aged society, compared to France (115 years), the United States (73 years), and Japan (24 years), indicating a much faster pace of change than in Europe. This underscores the urgent need for rapid revision of existing urban structures and infrastructure. Richard Florida, a professor at the University of Toronto, in his column 'Resilient Cities: Adapting Urban Spaces to Demographic Headwinds' published in Project Syndicate, analyzes the changes that population aging brings to urban productivity, consumption patterns, and housing and transportation infrastructure. Professor Florida emphasizes, "Cities should be creative and vibrant spaces, but the challenge of aging has the potential to threaten this. We must shift away from 'creative class'-centric urban development that focused solely on attracting young, educated talent, towards cities that embrace citizens of all ages." He presents 'inclusive urban design' as the key concept to solve these problems, stressing the importance of not only improving physical accessibility but also creating an environment where the elderly can actively participate in urban activities. Meanwhile, Dr. Sarah Harper of Oxford University, in her report 'Ageing Populations and Urban Infrastructure: A European Perspective' published on the LSE (London School of Economics) blog, presented examples of urban infrastructure suitable for an aging society, based on empirical data from major European cities. Dr. Harper specifically suggested, "The adaptability of cities to an aging population depends on three key factors. First, the establishment of an elder-friendly public transportation system. Low-floor buses, subway stations with elevators, and clear signage are essential. Second, an easily accessible healthcare service network. Primary healthcare facilities should be reachable within a 15-minute walk from both downtown and suburban areas. Third, community-based care services must be activated." According to Dr. Harper's research, these changes were proven essential for improving the quality of life for the elderly and maintaining urban vitality through a five-year follow-up study across 17 European cities. The cases of Amsterdam and Copenhagen are particularly noteworthy. Since 2018, Amsterdam, through its 'Age-Friendly City' program, installed seating at all tram stops in the city center and expanded resting areas in major shopping districts by 30%. Copenhagen redesigned its bicycle network to be safely usable by the elderly and created separate lanes for electric scooters and electric wheelchairs. Following these infrastructure improvements, both cities saw an average 40% increase in outings by seniors aged 70 and above, and a 25% decrease in the proportion of elderly people feeling socially isolated. As Korea is also experiencing rapid aging, it has reached a point where it must swiftly respond to these global trends. According to the Ministry of Interior and Safety's 2025 resident registration population statistics, the population aged 65 or older in Seoul accounted for approximately 18.3% of the total, while Busan recorded 21.8% and Jeollanam-do 26.4%, with many small local cities far exceeding 20%. In particular, some rural areas like Uiseong-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do (42.1%) and Goheung-gun, Jeollanam-do (40.7%) have reached a severe level with over 40% super-aged population. It is being pointed out that in redesigning its cities, Korean society should model itself after the best practices of European cities that have reflected the characteristics of aging. Korea's aging rate is significantly faster than the global average, impacting not only urban structures but also economic and social aspects. According to the OECD report 'Health at a Glance
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