한국인의 행복과 삶의 질에 관한 종합연구: 국제비교를 중심으로

Abstract

이 연구는 3개년 협동연구과제 「한국인의 행복과 삶의 질에 관한 종합 연구」의 마지막 과업으로 국제비교 관점에서 양적 연구와 질적 연구 방법으로 축적한 자료를 통해 한국인의 행복과 삶의 질 수준을 진단하고, 한국인의 국민총행복과 삶의 질을 높이는 데에 실질적으로 기여하는 근거 기반 정책 방안을 도출하는 데 있다. 연구 결과, 첫째, 행복의 관점에서 취약한 집단을 식별하고 그들의 다차원적인 삶의 질을 개선할 필요가 있다. 저소득층 등 전통적인 취약계층뿐만 아니라 중장년과 노인, 특히 한국에서 행복 수준이 유의하게 낮은 자영업자, 사회적 관계가 단절된 고립 인구 등을 포함한다. 둘째, 행복한 삶 담론에 대한 공감대를 형성하고, 자아실현을 할 수 있는 일 문화 확립의 필요성을 제안하였다. 셋째, 지역의 물리적 인프라 개선과 함께 삶의 불안정성을 제거하고 예측 가능한 삶을 위한 탄탄한 사회안전망 구축을 제안하였다. 마지막으로 국민총행복 향상을 위한 제도 기반으로서 행복 취약계층을 발굴하고 정책 효과를 평가하기 위한 실시간 모니터링 체계의 행복예산제 도입을 제안하였다.

This is the third-year and final task of a series of 「A Comprehensive Study of Happiness and Quality of Life in Korea」. From an international comparison point of view, this study aims to diagnose the level of happiness and quality of life of Koreans as per the data accumulated through quantitative and qualitative researches, and to synthesize the three-year research results to determine those of the total population of Koreans. Combining the results from the quantitative analysis and the qualitative study, we tried to derive evidence-based policy measures which are practically contributable to the improvement of happiness. First, the need would be suggested to identify vulnerable groups in terms of happiness and to improve their multidimensional quality of life. In addition to the traditional vulnerable groups such as the low-income groups, this study has identified some other the major happiness-vulnerable groups such as the middle-aged and the elderly whose actual value of happiness does not reach the expected level; the self-employed with a significantly low value of happiness; and the isolated population with severe cut-off of social relationships. Second, another suggestion is the social efforts for a happy Korea. To form a consensus on the discourse on the happy life of Koreans for maintaining a livelihood, it is suggested necessary to establish proper work culture that enables self-actualization rather than feeling not happy while immersed in work as labor. We also found the need to form a community-based communication for a social consensus to recognize and respect the diversity of life that people choose for themselves. Third, for making a welfare state where the people are happy, it would be proposed to improve the local physical infrastructures that can secure spatial capabilities for commuting and movement, quality housing and safety, and cultural conditions. And it is also suggested to build a strong social safety net for a predictable life by eliminating the instability factors. In addition, as for the efforts to prepare mid-to-long term comprehensive policy directions and measures for enhancing the general happiness of the people by considering the happiness-vulnerable class as the institutional basis, we have identified the happiness budget system referred to the well-being budgets of Italy and New Zealand, and the policy effectiveness is evaluated for the happiness-vulnerable class. It is also proposed to establish a real-time monitoring system for timely capture of the effects of policy changes and vulnerable population.