The Philippines has the youngest population in East Asia, with a median age of 26. In contrast, South Korea is the oldest, with an average age of 46. Although there is hope that South Korea's demographic crisis might ease—given that its birth rate rose for a second straight year in 2025—its 5.0 new births per 1,000 people still lags behind China (5.6) and Japan (5.7). Because of its shrinking population, South Korea’s potential economic growth rate, once estimated at an annual rate of two percent, has fallen by six percentage points over the last three decades—a sharper decline than in most major economies. The country's central bank expects this rate to drop further to 0.6 percent by 2045–2049.

Credit rating agencies warn of growing strains on public finances due to welfare expenditures. The country’s public pension fund, the world’s largest with $1 trillion in assets, is projected to be depleted by 2071. South Korea’s population of 51.8 million is expected to shrink by almost a third to 36.2 million by 2072, according to 2022 government projections. In contrast, the Philippine population continues to grow, despite its fertility rate having declined below the replacement level of 2.1 babies per woman. In 2026, the rate stood at 1.6, but it will take time before the population starts to decline. The most recent estimates suggest the Philippine population will peak at 135 million sometime between 2055 and 2060. Meanwhile, the relatively young Filipino population can continue to provide workers for aging countries like Japan and South Korea.

A recent article in the Financial Times by Song Jung-a in Seoul and Persis Love in London highlighted the serious shortage of caregivers in South Korea. The country has become a "super-aged" society, with those aged 65 and older accounting for 20 percent of the total population. One in five elderly people lives alone, leading to some of the highest rates of senior poverty, depression, and suicide in the developed world. Enter Hyodol, an AI doll offering companionship to the elderly. Operating on OpenAI’s ChatGPT system, Hyodol mimics human interaction through advanced language processing and emotional recognition. It also serves as a health monitor, issuing alerts to family members or social workers during medical emergencies.

Although I respect contrary opinions, I consider this an "inhuman" solution to the problem of loneliness and the need for affection. A country like the Philippines, which still has a young population and a relatively high rate of unemployment and underemployment, should be able to supply caregivers to countries like South Korea or Japan. Currently, about 80,000 Filipinos live in South Korea, including nearly 40,000 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) primarily in manufacturing, agriculture, fisheries, and construction. Only about 100 caregivers are employed under a pilot program. It is hoped that this program expands, providing a more humane solution to the loneliness of senior citizens in one of East Asia’s wealthiest nations.

South Korea might look to Taiwan, which employs about 230,000 foreign caregivers, including 30,000 Filipinos. Most of these caregivers are home-based. In comparison, Japan employs about 3,600 Filipino nurses and caregivers, mainly in hospitals and nursing homes. While the total Filipino population in Japan is large (340,000), caregivers remain a tiny fraction. However, this number could rise to 10,000 by 2030. South Korea presents the fastest growth potential, potentially jumping from a base of 100 caregivers today to 15,000 by 2030. South Korea is the "sleeping giant" market—the biggest upside, provided policy decisions align.

To make productive use of the "demographic dividend" the Philippines will enjoy for the next thirty years, Philippine policymakers should coordinate with South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s five-year roadmap to address economic shocks from an aging population. Alongside support for childbirth, this roadmap includes measures to attract skilled foreign workers. Our ongoing shift toward technical skills rather than just college diplomas should include training for roles our neighbors will need: nurses, caregivers, and hospitality workers. Realistically, even if future Philippine administrations accelerate GDP growth to eight percent or more, unemployment will persist as AI, the Internet of Things, and robotics lead to layoffs in sectors like call centers and retail. For at least the next 20 years, we will have enough workers for our own needs and those of our rapidly aging East Asian neighbors. The OFW phenomenon is here to stay for the foreseeable future.

With BTS once again making waves globally after completing their military service, we are reminded of another complementarity: the entertainment business. South Korea has perfected state support for creative industries. Filipino artistic talent, especially in singing and dancing, is world-class. Cooperation between the two countries could lead to global dominance in entertainment. To let my imagination run wild: a group patterned after BTS but composed of both Korean and Filipino talents would be unbeatable. Netflix K-dramas likewise offer opportunities for shared talent to supply the world with entertainment.

Finally, the Philippine workforce can benefit from partnerships with Korean management, known for perfecting attention to detail. Unfortunately, many of our workers and managers still suffer from the "medyo tama, medyo mali, tama na" (roughly right, roughly wrong, that's enough) syndrome. Perfection in the smallest details is not yet part of our culture. I was struck by the symbolism cited by Ambassador Lee Sang-hwa regarding the dinner table at President Lee Jae-myung’s State Visit. The table was adorned with sampaguita blossoms. As an amateur gardener, I know the sampaguita is humble compared to roses or orchids. Each blossom is small, yet it exudes a sweet fragrance. Strung together in a garland, they decorate the most important figures. As Ambassador Sang-hwa wrote, their quiet fragrance symbolizes the enduring friendship between our nations. The smallness of the sampaguita also symbolizes what we can learn from Korean workers: the importance of detail. There is no room for sloppiness in human work which, to a Christian, is the ordinary way of sanctifying oneself and giving glory to God.