These days, when I watch the news, there is one clear difference from the past.

When reading obituaries of celebrities, their ages are quite remarkable.

Age 95.
Age 97.
Age 99.
Age 100.

Just twenty years ago, reaching 80 was considered a long life.

Now, even surpassing 90 elicits a response like, "You've lived a long life," and more and more famous individuals are passing away after reaching 100.

The news of former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan passing away at the age of 100 made me reflect on this.

Once one of the most influential figures driving the U.S. economy, he served as the Fed Chairman for over 18 years from 1987 to 2006. He was at the center of economic policy through four U.S. presidents.

In fact, what many people focused on in this news was not his economic achievements but rather his age.

"He lived to be 100?"

Such occurrences are likely to become more common in the future, thanks to advancements in medical technology that are incomparable to the past.

In the past, even simple pneumonia or infectious diseases could be fatal. But now, antibiotics and vaccines have advanced, and conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension can be managed effectively.

Cancer treatment technologies have also significantly improved compared to the past.

Diseases that used to claim lives in the 60s now allow many to live into their 80s and 90s.

Living conditions have also changed.

Access to clean drinking water, the availability of refrigerators, improved nutrition, and the spread of a no-smoking culture have all contributed to a significant increase in average lifespan.

This is true not only in the U.S. but also in South Korea.

In the 1970s, the average lifespan of South Koreans was just over 60 years. However, it has now surpassed 80 years.

In just one generation, life expectancy has increased by more than 20 years.

Another reason is that there is now a large population in their late 90s.

Those born in the 1920s and 1930s survived through world wars and the Great Depression. Now that this generation is reaching their late 90s and around 100, news related to longevity is naturally increasing.

Of course, economic stability cannot be overlooked.

Famous politicians, businesspeople, and celebrities are more likely to receive better medical services than the average person. They can consistently undergo regular check-ups and receive care from specialized medical professionals.

This is why the ages of the celebrities mentioned in obituaries feel even more pronounced.

However, there is one interesting point.

People do not simply remember those who lived a long life.

They remember what those who lived to 100 left behind.

The same goes for Alan Greenspan.

Some evaluate him as a figure who led the golden age of the U.S. economy, while others criticize him as the one who sowed the seeds of the financial crisis.

Opinions may vary.

But what is more important than the fact that he lived for 100 years is the legacy he left behind.

We are truly living in an age of 100 years.

The question may not be how long we live, but how healthily we live and what legacy we leave behind.

In an era where living to 100 is no longer special.

Perhaps in the future, we will see news of people passing away at 105 or 110 much more frequently than we do now.