This study examines the recent mortality pattern and life expectancy of Korean population in Japan and in Korea, respectively. Several abridged life tables of Koreans in Japan and in Korea were constructed for the census year during the period of 1965 - 1990 and for the year of 19891991. Also life tables for Koreans in Korea for the year of 1990 were constructed by district. In 1990, more than 60% of total deaths come from cerebrovascular diseases, cancers, and accidents. The expectations of life at birth of Korean males in Japan were 62.1 years in 1965, 65.7 years in 1970, 67.9 years in 1975, 68.3 years in 1980, 70.2 years in 1985, and 70.4 years in 1990, whereas those values of Korean females in Japan were 71.2 years in 1965, 74.7 years in 1970, 77.3 years in 1975, 78.2 years in 1980, 78.6 years in 1985, and 79. 1 years in 1990, respectively. The expectations of life at birth of Koreans in Korea during 1988-1991 were 68. 1 years for males and 76.8 years for females, respectively.
The highest life expectations of Koreans at birth by district were 71.2 years for males in Taejon and 79.8 years for females in Jeju, respectively. The life expectancy could be prolonged by elimination of malignant neoplasm in males with 2.4 years and in females with 2.0 years respectively, followed by injury and poisoning and (2.2 years in males and 1.3 years in females), and cerebrovasular diseases (1.2 years in males and 1.9 years in females).
The major three leading causes of death in 1990 were malignant neoplasm, cerebrovasular diseases, and heart diseases for Koreans in Japan, whereas malignant neoplasm, cerebrovasular diseases, and senility for Koreans in Korea. Sex ratios of Korean deaths in Japan were 1.7 times higher than those values of Koreans in Korea.
Recent mortality pattern and life expectancy at birth of Koreans in Japan seemed likely to follow those values of Japanese more than Koreans in Korea. The implications of these results could provide useful information for the evaluation of the future public health programs of Koreans abroad.
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