President Lee: "Turning Point to Transform Population Policy... Fundamental System Redesign"

▲ President Lee Jae-myung speaks at the Population Strategy Vision Proclamation Ceremony held at the Blue House on October 14.

President Lee Jae-myung stated, "Now is a turning point to change the very structure and framework of our Republic of Korea's population policy," adding, "We must fundamentally redesign South Korea's overall socioeconomic system in line with demographic changes."

President Lee made the remarks while presiding over the "Popular Sovereignty Government Population Strategy Vision Proclamation Ceremony" at the Blue House on October 14, saying, "Population strategy is a crucial task upon which the destiny of the Republic of Korea depends."

President Lee assessed, "Over the past 20 years, successive governments have injected massive financial resources to respond to the low birth rate and aging population, but the population problem is not easily resolved," adding, "Rather, it is worsening into an increasingly complex and structural issue."

He continued, "The population problem is an aggregate social issue caused by an environment where individuals bear the burden of child-rearing, anxiety about the future, and disparities where opportunities are concentrated among a few," adding, "On top of existing challenges such as low birth rates, population aging, and a declining working-age population, we are also facing new phenomena such as diverse family structures and an increase in immigrants."

President Lee explained, "In the end, the core is to build a nation where our people can enjoy a happy life throughout their entire life cycle," adding, "The population problem can be mitigated only when there is hope that one and their family can be happy together, regardless of where or with whom they live."

He also emphasized, "While quantitative growth issues such as birth rates and population size are important, a major shift toward population policies that pursue qualitative growth is also necessary," adding, "The population policy we will build must serve as labor policy, welfare policy, jobs and housing policy, and at the same time childcare policy."

In particular, President Lee noted, "The number of newborns has rebounded for two consecutive years recently, and surveys also show an increase in the proportion of people intending to marry and have children. This is a very welcome phenomenon," adding, "It is crucial to ensure that this trend continues."

He also encouraged, "Taking a long-term view, it is also an opportunity to redesign social systems in the face of the historic transition of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution."

President Lee said, "We must craft comprehensive measures that encompass marriage, childbirth, and child-rearing, while further strengthening state care responsibilities and qualitatively improving working conditions," adding, "It is important that everyone is respected regardless of generation, region, or diverse lifestyles, and I look forward to in-depth discussions on these matters as well."

(Photo: Yonhap News)

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