An International Comparative Study on Statutory Retirement-Decoupling and Activation Policies for the Reemployment of Retired Older Workers

This study examines activation policies aimed at promoting elderly reemployment in Korea and selected OECD countries, with particular attention to the issue of statutory retirement-decouplingthe structural gap between formal retirement ages and actual labor market exit.In Korea, despite a legal retirement age of 60, early retirement practices remain widespread, creating significant barriers to labor market reintegration for older adults.To address this issue, the study employs a Sequential Exploratory Mixed Methods approach.First, the Most Similar Systems Design (MSSD) is used to compare activation strategies across seven OECD countries, focusing on conditionality, ALMP investment, and postretirement employment linkage systems.Then, using data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA), a logistic regression analysis identifies key determinants of reemployment among retired older workers in Korea.The cross-national analysis finds that countries mitigating retirement-decoupling through flexible job transitions and role-based redesign tend to adopt hybrid activation models that integrate Work-First and Human Capital Development (HCD) approaches.In Korea, however, persistent institutional-practice mismatches weaken the effectiveness of such policies.Empirical findings indicate that age and educational attainment significantly influence reemployment outcomes.Accordingly, a dual-track approach is recommended: short-term Work-First measures to expand flexible job entry, and long-term HCD strategies to promote sustainable employment and active aging.This study contributes meaningful insights for designing inclusive, evidence-based reemployment policies in aging societies.