In financial literacy, Koreans score lower than OECD average
  • 5 years ago
한국국민 금융이해력 62.2점…OECD 평균에 '미달'

The Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service conducted a survey to find out the country's financial literacy.
It shows, South Koreans rank lower than the OECD average.
Kim Hyesung help us look beyond the digits.
The results of a survey suggest a financial literacy score for Koreans of 62-point-two, which is lower than the OECD average of 64-point-nine.
Financial literacy is defined by the OECD as "a combination of knowledge, attitude and behavior necessary to make sound financial decisions and ultimately achieve individual financial wellbeing."
Using the same OECD measurement consisting of 18 questions, the Bank of Korea and the Financial Supervisory Service conducted a survey last year on 24-hundred Koreans aged between 18 and 79.
The respondents scored particularly low on financial behavior, which includes financial planning,... and on financial attitude,... which is about attitudes toward consumption, saving and money.
There was not much difference in financial literacy between men and women.
By age group, those in their 30s scored the highest at 64-point-9, followed by those in their forties and fifties.
"Those older than 60 scored below 60 points because of a lack of knowledge of finacial skills and products. Among people in their 20s, finanacial behavior and attitude are changing. They put more value on consumption than on saving or investing for the future."
Financial literacy also differed by income.
People earning more than 50 million Korean won, or around 45-thousand U.S. dollars a year, scored 65-point-6, while those earning less than 27-thousand dollars a year scored 58.
The Financial Supervisory Service and the Bank of Korea said strengthening financial education for the eldery, lower income groups and young people will be important... and said they will work with economic research institutions in the country to improve financial literacy overall.
Kim Hyesung, Arirang News.
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