Korea, China, Japan, and ASEAN Discuss Social Welfare Cooperation for Vulnerable Groups

- MOHW 1st Vice Minister Lee Seuran attends 8th ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development -

- Asean Delegations deliver remarks and hold discussions on strengthening responsive social protection for vulnerable groups -

Lee Seuran, 1st Vice Minister of the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW), attended the 8th ASEAN Plus Three (Korea, China, Japan) Ministerial Meeting on Social Welfare and Development* (AMMSWD+3), held virtually on Friday, August 29, as Korea’s government representative. At the meeting, Vice Minister Lee discussed ways to strengthen social protection cooperation for vulnerable groups with ASEAN member states**, China, and Japan.

   * The AMMSWD+3 is convened every three years to promote active exchange and cooperation in social welfare among ASEAN countries. (2025 Chair: Myanmar)

   ** The 10 ASEAN member states: Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, Myanmar, Laos, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia

This year’s meeting was held under the theme, “Enhancing Responsive Social Protection for Vulnerable Groups in the ASEAN Community.”

Vice Minister Lee shared Korea’s major policy experiences and achievements, including operating a big data-based system to identify and support households in crisis; expanding community care and long-term care insurance for older persons and persons with disabilities; providing customized counseling and self-reliance support for youth and households in crisis; strengthening legal protections to ensure the rights of persons with disabilities and prevent discrimination; and implementing policies to protect women and children while promoting gender equality.

Vice Minister Lee specifically highlighted Korea’s efforts to strengthen early identification of households in crisis through a system to detect households underserved by the welfare system, which has utilized 47 types of administrative big data since 2015. She emphasized that the support rate for crisis-affected households rose sharply, from 16% in 2015 to 58.4% in 2024 through this system. She also noted Korea’s community-based care policies that support independent living for older persons and persons with disabilities, as well as its active promotion of policies to create a gender-equal and family-friendly society, including gender-responsive budgeting and work–life balance systems.

The Joint Statement adopted at the meeting includes commitments to strengthen inclusive social protection for vulnerable groups such as women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons; expand regional cooperation in responding to disasters and pandemics; enhance the capacity of social welfare professionals; and improve access to social protection services through digital technologies.

Vice Minister Lee stated, “Social protection policies are a fundamental pillar supporting the resilience and sustainability of communities,” adding that “Korea will continue to work closely with ASEAN member states, as well as with Japan and China, to enhance responsive and inclusive social protection systems across the region.” ///