According to Statistics Korea and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, the number of employed individuals aged 60 and over reached a record 6.75 million in September, compared to 6.72 million workers in their 50s.
The 60-plus demographic now represents 23.4 percent of the total workforce, followed by workers in their 50s at 23.3 percent, 40s at 21.5 percent, 30s at 19 percent, and 20s at 12.4 percent.
Senior entrepreneurship has also seen remarkable growth, with businesses started by people over 60 in July increasing by 14.6 percent year-on-year to about 13,000.
This trend reflects South Korea's rapidly aging workforce and has prompted discussions about extending employment opportunities beyond traditional retirement age.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety has already raised the retirement age for some public sector workers from 60 to 65.