Secrets to Korean Longevity Revealed

How can we live a long and healthy life?

The National Statistical Office on June 21 released “a survey of centenarians.” According to the survey, as of November 1, 2005, the number of people over 100 years old in Korea is 961. Among them, women account for 89.2 percent (857). Widows and widowers number 933.

The oldest include two women at 110 years old at the time of the survey.

One of them was born on October 9, 1894 (according to the lunar calendar), and the other was born on November 20, 1984. As of June 2006, they are 111 years old. They live in Chungnam and Daejeon, respectively. One of them is being taken care of by an 83-year-old daughter-in-law.

The oldest man was born on August 14, 1989. As of November 1, 2005, he was 107 years old and lives in Daegu.

There is only one couple who are both centenarians. As of November 1, 2005, the husband was 105 and the wife was 101. They live in Gyeonggi Province.

The city with the largest number of centenarians is Suncheon in Jeonnam Province with a total of 18 centenarians, followed by Jeju with 15, and Yeosu and Gangseo District in Seoul with 14.

They eat in moderation and have optimistic characters. They mostly do not smoke nor drink.

Sun-Woo Kim sublime@donga.com