{
  "id": 19595887,
  "title": "Right to age in place",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/right-to-age-in-place-19595887",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T03:57:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/opinion/20261112/right-to-age-in-place"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Korea is now considered a super-aged society, with a significant portion of its population aged 65 and over. According to data from the Ministry of Data and Statistics, by 2026, around 21.6 percent of the country's inhabitants will fall into this demographic. For older residents facing mobility challenges, the presence of stairs in their homes can be far more than a mere inconvenience. These stairs can become a serious risk of falls, limiting their daily activities and potentially confining them to their residences against their will. Without elevators or home lifts, maintaining a sense of independence and staying within familiar surroundings becomes increasingly difficult. Some individuals may eventually be forced to relocate to nursing facilities or housing with elevators, even if they wish to age in place.\n\nThe struggle to age in place is exemplified by Yang Sung-hak, a resident of Anyang in Gyeonggi Province. After moving out of his apartment, he purchased his dream country home. However, his vision was shattered when he, in his mid-70s, suffered a fall down the stairs, resulting in fractures to his leg and lower back. Installing a home lift in his new residence has proven to be a challenging task. Building regulations concerning fire safety and floor-area calculations complicate the options available to homeowners. Additionally, the concerns of neighbors further add to the complexity of the situation, making it difficult to implement necessary modifications.",
  "summary": "Korea has become a super-aged society as its baby boomers grow older. According to Ministry of Data and Statistics, people aged 65 and over account for approximately 21.6 percent of the population in 2026. Older residents with mobility difficulties, stairs are more than an inconvenience: They pose a serious risk of falls. Stairs restrict their daily activities and may even leave them confined to…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}