About 1 in 500 Koreans lived to age 100, a lower proportion than in most of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, according to recent research.

The study showed that 1,826 among 908,490 Korean people in the 50-54 age bracket in 1961 became centenarians in 2011.

In terms of the centenarian rate, Korea ranked 26th of 32 countries in the OECD, according to the report released by Kim Jong-in, a professor of health and welfare at Wonkwang University. Japan topped the list, proving its reputation as a “longevity country.”

“If the country wants its people to live long past 100, it will have to spend more on medical expenses and related social networks,” the professor said.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)