Insurers are weighing entry into the rapidly expanding senior care sector, including nursing homes and long-term care facilities, but regulatory requirements that mandate operators own the land and buildings used for such facilities are emerging as a major hurdle, industry officials said Thursday. According to the Ministry of Data and Statistics, the share of people aged 65 and older surpassed 20 percent of the population in 2025 and is projected to approach 30 percent by 2035. As Korea transitions deeper into a super-aged society, demand for long-term care services is expected to surge, prompting life insurers to explore the sector as a potential new growth engine. Despite the rising demand, only a handful of insurers affiliated with financial holding companies have entered the business so far. Most insurers remain cautious, largely because the regulatory framework creates high entry barriers by requiring heavy upfront investment in property ownership. Under the enforcement rules of the Welfare of Senior Citizens Act, businesses operating nursing facilities with 10 or more residents mu