Been to Korea 4 times. To work(read slave off by choice), while my visa was business. On whichever weekend I was left alone by my firm I spent it in travelling

Been to Korea 4 times. To work(read slave off by choice), while my visa was business. On whichever weekend I was left alone by my firm I spent it in travelling around, trying things out, meeting people and trying to strike a conversation. Elderly people were extremely polite and courteous and extremely reserved too. Maybe because of the huge language barrier(any language other than Korean has very limited reception in Korea) which is IMHO, though very difficult for me, something South Koreans should be proud of - being self sufficient without English(the colonial hangover) which has crept into social DNA everywhere else. Yes, the 'family' seems to be non-existent in Korea now, following the western tracks. This assumption is based upon external observation and talking to my Korean guest-house people, some staff who are from India/Pakistan/Nepal(either Korean citizens now or having lived their long), colleagues(friends let's say) who ever opened up on such matters(usually after a few drinks). I can confirm that after a few drinks every society becomes one and social taboos are duly fd off. Most open were(once they are open) Korean females friends I have known their, whether met in office or outside - they talked very animatedly about their parents and how they don't find time for each other and most likely will never find it. They also are worried whether their own state is going to be worse than this. Here's the last line of the article, "When I see these old people, I see how my own generation will die.". One answer was common. Your parents bring you up till you get your job and are on your feet, after that you are on your own. And they(parents) are on their own too! They usually spend their time in shops alone and sitting alone in those park benches with those stoic faces. A very healthy life style/food makes the matters worse(as in loneliness) as the life expectancy is quite high in SK. Maybe that's a saving grace in India(my country) as families are slowly disappearing here too, and/or turning into dysfunctional arrangements which is not even a distant resemblance of glorious old Indian family. As for social care - politicians are very corrupt and do surpass even US standards. In US at least even heavyweights get long imprisonments. In Korea they get parliamentary pardon. Nobody cares about national elderly population(besides, just paying bills is hardly they want/need). So, while everyone is busy taking share prices higher and higher and building new things, the last generation - which is no longer a workforce - is left behind in the race; mercilessly abandoned.