Age is just a number for older adults in the work force
2026.05.05 07:00
ULSAN — At Sushi Eun in Ulsan, the youngest kitchen hand is 62 and the oldest is 74 — and business is brisk.
The Japanese restaurant in Sinjeong-dong, Nam District, opened in December last year as employment initiative for older adults run by the Nam-gu District Office and the Nam-gu Senior Club. Of its 17 staff members, all but the head cook are aged 60 or over.
Just before the lunchtime rush on April 20, the kitchen was in full swing. Staff in headbands and aprons moved swiftly at their respective stations.
“At home, the days dragged by, but here there's never enough time. When I'm working, I feel like I'm still in the game,” said Kim Mi-kyung, aged 63, as she tidied the tables.
Their roles go well beyond serving and cleaning. They shape sushi, arrange sashimi and make rice balls, and some are even learning the skill of filleting fish.
“I had always cooked the same things at home, so doing Japanese cuisine here is fun,” said Jeong Sun-a, aged 69. “I thought, what could I possibly learn at my age — but when I actually tried, I found I could do it.”
“I get a salary and can give my grandchildren pocket money,” said Jang Jeong-hui, aged 71, said while trimming vegetables.
The staff work on a rotating schedule averaging around 50 hours a month and earn approximately 600,000 won.
At the back of the kitchen, cook Kim Hyeong-mu, aged 41, worked a knife through sushi ingredients. He handles the fish preparation and finishing touches, while the senior staff divide up the rest.
“It took some time to find our rhythm at first, but now everyone moves according to their role,” he said. Park Deok-seop, aged 67, who assists the cook, retired from a career in the chemical industry and is now learning Japanese cuisine on the job. “Working is really enjoyable,” he said.
A similar scene unfolded that same afternoon, 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.
A mobile laundry vehicle marked “Gichan Laundromat” pulled up in front of the village hall in Yeongam County, South Jeolla. Inside, washing machines and dryers hummed away while senior workers in and around the vehicle moved briskly, folding and carrying laundry — all aged 60 or over.
“I used to work at a company that specialized in washing hospital linen,” said Kim Mun-yong, aged 72. “That experience is what led me to work here.”
A total of 25 people work on rotation at the laundromat, which travels across 11 towns and townships in Yeongam County.
Experts stress that what is needed is not simply more jobs for the young-old, but tailored positions that reflect individual careers and capabilities, backed by the right education and training infrastructure.
“The capabilities of the young-old — with their years of experience and expertise — are an important social asset,” said Heo Chang-deok, professor of sociology at Yeungnam University. “Harnessing them systematically and connecting them to quality employment is one of the core challenges our society faces.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
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