As Korea is turning to aging and super-aging society, senior citizens are experiencing
change in their value system. In addition, existing policies for aging society were designed
to meet the needs of senior citizens to survive only. Therefore, the author recognized the
need to develop customized policies to improve quality of life of aged population and help
them realize their potential. Against this backdrop, this study aims to suggest measures to
promote arts activities as a way for senior citizens to participate in the society.
Social engagement of seniors can be defined as more comprehensive activities that
include personal, social, economical and organizational aspects. In other words, seniors’
social participation can involve activities in various fields including economic, educational,
leisure, political and volunteer activities. In this regard, the study examined arts activities
as part of senior’s social activities and divided them into different types: educational,
talent-sharing and volunteering, public art, and art therapy. The author conducted surveys
with the seniors who perform art activities, and the results showed that they are very actively
engaged in social activities and they were very satisfied with what they do. This shows
the strong demand by seniors to participate in the society.
Therefore, in order to develop policies for senior citizens to suit their needs in this
modern society, different stakeholders including government, relevant agencies, life-long
education instructors, and arts experts, should come together to collaborate and conduct
research in various aspects to lay the path forward to establish arts activities for senior
citizens. The measures to promote arts activities for seniors, according to this study, are
as follows: 1) enhance arts expertise to enhance capabilities, 2) establish government-level
policies to provide jobs to senior citizens in arts field, 3) build a one-on-one network between
seniors and children, and 4) run senior art instructor program in schools or public institutions.