Ageism directed to Elderly Patients in Health Services as reflected through Korean Films and Series
Keywords:
Ageism in Health Services, Elderly Patients, Films and Series Korea, Sociological TheoryAbstract
This research aims to study ageism towards elderly patients in the health services reflected through the texts of Korean movies and series by looking at the media through the sociological theory. This is a qualitative research. Data were collected by textual analysis of 16 Korean movies and series that were broadcast from 2013 to 2025.
The results of the study found that the texts of Korean movies and series communicate ageism towards elderly patients in the health services, which can be divided into 4 dimensions as follows: Dimension 1: Negative image leads to the absorption of negative images of the use of health services by the elderly; Dimension 2: Industrial society leads to the idea that elderly patients are economic burdens; Dimension 3: The upper class and the lower class elderly patients lead to the idea of ageism towards the oppressed; Dimension 4: The social structure of elderly patients, which is full of both perpetrators and victims. The research has an important finding: the acceptance of power that acts on the health services. The concept of sociologists reveals the factors before the emergence of power, resulting in ageism reflected in the texts of Korean movies and series in a profound way. All of these research findings will help prompt aging societies to develop programs and policies aimed at reducing age discrimination in healthcare systems and promoting the health and well-being of elderly patients.
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