Overview

• South Korea’s 1.24 million elderly dementia patients collectively hold 153.5 trillion won in assets, equivalent to 6.4 percent of the nation’s GDP, as of 2023.
• Real estate constitutes 74.1 percent of these holdings, valued at 113.8 trillion won, with financial assets making up the remainder at 33.4 trillion won.
• The number of dementia patients is projected to triple by 2050, with their combined assets expected to reach 488 trillion won, or 15.6 percent of GDP.
• Cases of financial abuse, including theft by caregivers and acquaintances, underscore the vulnerability of dementia patients and the need for stronger protections.
• The government plans annual tracking of dementia-related assets and aims to enhance private trusts, expand public guardianship programs, and develop asset management systems to prevent exploitation and economic stagnation.