Nine out of 10 middle-aged residents of Seoul are caring for a parent or a child, a city survey found. While 63.9% said policies for the middle-aged should be expanded, only 22.6% said they actually felt the benefits of existing programs. Housing type, income and family status shaped life satisfaction more than whether respondents held a job.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government released the first results of its "Seoul Middle-Age Quality of Life Index," the first of its kind in the country, at the Seoul Middle-Age Policy Forum 2026 held at the Korea Press Center on the 15th. The survey polled 2,058 Seoul residents aged 40 to 64 online from June 5 to 29. The index measures 12 areas of life, from household finances, employment and housing to health, caregiving and retirement preparation.
Average life satisfaction among middle-aged Seoul residents was 3.18 out of 5. Differences by employment status were negligible, while satisfaction varied sharply by housing type, income level and marital status. Those living in homes they own scored 3.31, compared with 2.62 for those renting on a monthly basis with no deposit.
Income did not necessarily track with satisfaction. Average monthly household income among middle-aged Seoul residents was 6.617 million won, yet only 20.9% said they were satisfied with their income. A total of 88.1% were caring for a parent or a child, and nearly half were caring for both at once — the so-called sandwich generation.
Policy demand was concentrated in jobs and health. Demand was highest for placement in community service jobs, followed by exercise and physical activity programs, job training, re-employment support and counseling, and education in AI and digital skills. Time constraints, accessibility and a lack of information were identified as barriers to actual participation.
One analysis found that the core problem in employment for the middle-aged is a mismatch between their careers and market demand rather than a shortage of jobs. Suitable positions drawing on their experience were proposed across seven fields, including safety and firefighting, IT and telecommunications, energy and equipment, and AI and data. Examples include AI transition support specialists, telecommunications infrastructure maintenance workers and management support specialists for small and midsize firms.
Distance emerged as a key variable in policy access. An analysis of usage at Seoul's 426 administrative neighborhoods and five 50Plus Campuses found that use declined as distance from a campus grew, and remained low beyond 4 kilometers. The findings point to a need for more facilities so that education and employment support are available close to where people live. The city plans to expand its job training academies for the middle-aged to all 25 autonomous districts.
"The middle-aged are grouped under a single label, but their past experiences and what they need going forward differ from person to person," Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said. "We will respond with policies that fit the diverse lives of the middle-aged."
