Seoul: South Koreans' average satisfaction with life decreased for the first time in four years in 2023, ranking 33rd out of the 38 member nations of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a government report showed Monday. The level of life satisfaction came to 6.4 points on a 10-point scale, edging down 0.1 point from a year ago.
According to Yonhap News Agency, South Korea's life satisfaction level was lower compared with the OECD average of 6.69 points, as indicated by the World Happiness Report issued by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. The report highlighted the disparity in satisfaction levels among different income groups, with households earning below 1 million won (US$700) per month reporting a satisfaction level of 5.7 points, while those earning over 6 million won reported 6.6 points.
By age group, individuals in their 40s had the highest life satisfaction level at 6.6 points, followed by those in their 20s and 30s, both at 6.5 points. Those above the age of 60 showed a relatively lower satisfaction level at 6.2 points. Statistics Korea noted the number of suicides per 100,000 people increased by 2.1 on-year to 27.3 in 2023, marking the highest level since 2014.
The report also indicated a significant rise in crime, with the number of crimes per 100,000 people increasing to 6,439 cases in 2022 from 3,806 cases in 2020, driven by a surge in property crimes. Property crimes increased to 5,397 cases per 100,000 people from 2,928 cases in the same period, while violent crimes rose to 1,041 cases from 878 cases.
Meanwhile, the report revealed that South Korea's employment rate rose for the fourth consecutive year to nearly 63 percent in 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. The employment rate reached 62.7 percent last year, marking an increase for the fourth straight year from 60.1 percent tallied the previous year. The employment rate of college graduates also rose for the third consecutive year, from 65.1 percent in 2020 to 70.3 percent in 2023.