Full scale concern and debate related to the Aged has been made since the industrialization had taken place and the issue on aging of whole population has been raised by many fields of Korean society. Since 1950, Aged people's rate has increased all over the world, and such was the case for Korean society, which already recorded the entering into aging society in 1999. In 2022, aged population will reach 14% of the whole population which alerts the beginning of aged society.
Industrialization and urbanization as well as minimalization of family size deepened the separation among generations. Knowledge, experiences, labor values of the elderly became remote from labor market, resulting the difficulty of adaptation. The elderly class has turned into a population to be afforded and experienced isolation from their family and society of main stream, together with the financial burdens.
Isolation is a process or phenomenon of departure of self-identity, and it became not only individual but also social issue, requiring the initiation of social services since 1989.
The study analyzed literary works related to the elder issue and the isolation caused by drastic increase of the elderly population as the aging society approaches. The elderly in the work of writer Park Wan Seo will be explored and the meaning of social welfare will be addressed.
The outcomes of the analysis are as follows.
First, main characters in the works try recovery and reconciliation among family members. They are not the meek beings cast under the shade of feeling of isolation, but the strong figures to overcome the situation in isolation. Their pursuits are wellbeing of family, happy life, blessed aged life spread in hope and desire for building family-centered beauty.
The elderly in the work of Park Wan Seo are the people who on the borders of the efforts. Social welfare system elevated their self confidence in order them to manage their own lives, to maintain good relationship with other family members, and to enhance the relationship with others with the positive attitude for dominance of oneself' life.
Secondly, Park Wan Seo raises a question about the new emerging value to replace the traditional idea of 'honoring parents,' by saying "Koryojang custom was a kind of social welfare for elderly class in old days."
Administrative policies are required for the replacement of 'family support' to 'social support' as well as systematic methods to support the family with the elderly. Particularly, daughter-in-law who traditionally had full responsibility to support the elderly and the young female on jobs became more educated, and this social situation requires social responsibilities. The society should support direct family members and have concern for the friends, relative, neighbors, social organizations, and state related to the feeding of the elderly.
Thirdly, the aged period is not a new creative period, rather is the one that reflects the past personal history. The aged period is the time to acquire wholeness of life accumulated by the past events. Nevertheless, harvest is not the proper term, but positive look into the elderly life must be made to revitalize the past. This realization of the past into the present is shown in the works of Park Wan Seo, which lies in the meaningfulness of elderly life.
Isolation produces isolation. In other words, isolation is progressive present tense of various situations of seclusion. Finally, Present isolation will be deepened in the lives of the elderly of later generations.