[실시간] 돌봄 지옥, 사라지는 요양보호사 - 초고령사회의 민낯 2부작, 2부 | 추적60분 KBS 260710 방송

[Episode 1464] The Naked Truth of a Super-Aged Society: Part 2 of a Two-Part Series. Caregiving Hell, Disappearing Caregivers / Aired July 10, 2026, 22:00 Since the introduction of the Long-term Care Insurance System for the Elderly in 2008, this year marks its 18th year of implementation. Through this system, caregivers who have obtained state-certified qualifications have been providing care services to the elderly suffering from age-related diseases such as dementia and stroke. However, as of April 2026, while the number of certified caregivers has reached 3,179,367, the number of actual workers employed in long-term care institutions is only 682,741, accounting for a mere 21.5% of the total. The rest remain with so-called "closet licenses." Why have they left their workplaces? As caregiving personnel disappear, the void falls entirely on the families. As the second part of a two-part series revealing the raw reality of a super-aged society, Tracking 60 Minutes covered the voices of families struggling to find caregivers and the caregivers who stand firm in the field despite harsh working conditions. ■ The Burden of Care Cared for Alone The husband has visited the emergency room four times due to a stroke. He now suffers from diabetes and dementia as well. His wife, who has been supporting the family through home care work, continues to care for him while limping, even after having metal pins inserted into her leg following a leg injury. The situation is similar for 52-year-old Gyeong-su (pseudonym), who quit his job at a large corporation to make ends meet working a night shift at a convenience store. Caring for his older brother, who collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage, and his mother, who is in her nineties, falls entirely on him. Except for the few hours a caregiver stays, Gyeong-su has no choice but to take responsibility for the rest of the care. “Once they pass away, the responsibility of care falls to the guardian. If they get sick or something. It is a struggle for the person looking after them, and it is difficult for the person themselves.” Kyung-soo (pseudonym) / A younger sibling caring for his older brother and mother alone ■ The Care Gap Between Cities and Provinces An 85-year-old elderly person living alone in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, recently lost consciousness and collapsed due to diabetic shock. However, with no one to help, it took a considerable amount of time before he was transported to the hospital. Experts point out that finding caregivers is becoming increasingly difficult in rural areas facing the crisis of population decline. Although Obido Island in Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang Province, is close to the mainland, it is difficult to find caregivers due to the ferry service running only three times a day. Island residents are struggling because they cannot find caregivers even when they have family members in need of care. A nursing home in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, which the production team covered, has been operating with 10 of its 49 beds vacant for several months because it has been unable to recruit caregivers despite offering high salaries. “I’m exhausted… So I have no choice but to do this (caregiver work) Crawling around.” Park Jung-sook / 83-year-old resident of Obido, caring for husband with dementia ■ 2.5 Million “Closet Licenses”: Why Have They Left the Field? Kim Kyung-won, who worked as a caregiver until three months ago, is currently digging for clams in the mudflats of Taean, South Chungcheong Province. This is because while she received 39,000 won for a three-hour shift as a caregiver, she can earn nearly three times that amount by digging for clams in the same amount of time. Kim Kyung-won’s remark, “If I were treated just as well as other jobs, I would want to go back to being a caregiver myself,” clearly illustrates the poor working conditions faced by caregivers. Verbal abuse, physical assault, and sexual harassment are also repeated in the field. Kim Dong-ja, a caregiver with 13 years of experience, stated that she was threatened with a knife and a club at the home of an elderly person living alone. Four months have passed since the accident, but the victim has not received a proper apology or compensation for damages, citing the fact that the perpetrator suffers from dementia. “He came holding a kitchen knife, a knife in one hand and a club in the other, saying, ‘It’s all over if you die and I die,’ and threatened to pour boiling water on me.” Kim Dong-ja / Caregiver, Victim ■ Solutions for a Dignified Old Age On July 1st of this year, caregivers from across the country gathered in front of the National Assembly to mark Caregiver Day. “When the aging population retires, the question of ‘Who will be able to protect this caregiving field?’ is a huge challenge.” Jeong Chan-mi / President of the National Association of Caregivers South Korea has entered a super-aged society at an unprecedented speed. It is proje...