• 한국노년학
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.783-799
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to examine the major academic activities of the Korean Gerontological Society (KGS) during the last 40 years in comparison to changes in elderly policies in Korea and also academic trends in gerontology worldwide and the academic activities of the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics (IAGG); based on this analysis, this study aims to propose future directions for the academic progress of the KGS. We examined the major academic activities of the KGS by analyzing the contents of biannual conferences, international conferences, and irregular seminars and policy meetings, using conference booklets, KGS websites, and literature on KGS history. Second, we analyzed the academic activities of the KGS in comparison to changes in elderly policies in Korea, using databases of major newspapers and also the BigKinds search offered by the Korea Press Foundation. Third, the academic activities of the KGS were reviewed in comparison to those of the IAGG and the major aging policy agendas of key international organizations. The study results demonstrate that the KGS has been proactive in conducting diverse multi-disciplinary and international academic activities while promptly responding to both domestic and international changes in elderly policies. But some issues were not properly addressed due to the lack of diversity in its members, and it also should be noted that some issues were not discussed in depth for a sufficient length of time. Henceforth, as the leading academic organization in gerontology with a multi-disciplinary orientation in Korea, the KGS should continue to lead the development and evaluation of aging policies and also actively carry out diverse academic activities in collaboration with international academic societies and organizations.