Paper
Darcie Draudt-Véjares
Research
Beyond the Demographic Cliff: Workforce Trends and Economic Adaptation in Hyper-Aged Korea
South Korea’s demographic shift toward an increasingly older population is reshaping the country’s workforce. To ensure continued economic well-being, South Korea must prioritize workforce adaptation through technological innovation, skill development, and structural reforms.
Published on Jul 29, 2025
About the Author
Darcie Draudt-Véjares
Fellow, Asia Program
Darcie Draudt-Véjares is a fellow in the Carnegie Asia Program.
- Governing Aging Economies: South Korea and the Politics of Care, Safety, and Work
- What Happens When a Conservative Movement Continues on Without a Leader?Commentary
Darcie Draudt-Véjares
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
More Work from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
- Governing Aging Economies: South Korea and the Politics of Care, Safety, and WorkPaper
South Korea’s rapid demographic transition previews governance challenges many advanced and middle-income economies will face. This paper argues that aging is not only a care issue but a structural governance challenge—reshaping welfare, productivity, and fiscal sustainability, and reorganizing responsibilities across the state, private sector, and society.
Darcie Draudt-Véjares
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Lessons from Korea’s political right.
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