President Yoon Suk Yeol on the morning of Aug. 29 responds to questions at a national governance briefing and news conference at the Office of the President in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

By Kim Hyelin

President Yoon Suk Yeol on Aug. 29 announced a plan to reform the national pension system, focusing on legislation to guarantee pension payments.

In his second news briefing on national governance since assuming office at the Office of the President in Seoul, he said, "We must fundamentally reform the existing pension system, which makes senior citizens impoverished and youth distrustful."

He stressed the three principles in pension reform: sustainability, intergenerational fairness and income security in old age.

"The law should clearly stipulate that the government guarantees payment," he added. "This will give youth confidence that 'we can receive it, too.'"

"We will reform and innovate not only the national pension but also other pensions like basic, retirement and private to ensure that the silver years of the common people and middle class are firmly guaranteed."

President Yoon also pledged to complete reform of the four sectors of pension, health care, education and labor. "Reform inevitably incites resistance," he said, "I will definitely complete the four major reforms as promised to the people, and this is the path to fulfilling the mission that the public entrusted to me."

"Medical reform that strengthens regional and essential medical systems equitably guarantees the public's right to life and health without regional discrimination," he said on reforming medical care. "Now that the expansion of the medical student quota is finished, I will focus policy capacity on 'saving regional and essential health care,' which is the essence of reform."

Turning to education, President Yoon said, "The emphasis is on developing creative human resources through expansion of diversity, guaranteed choices, fair education serving as a ladder of opportunity and alleviation of excessive competitive pressure."

"We will establish 'public care' as soon as possible so that the government takes responsibility for education and child care," he added. "We will fairly provide high-quality education and child care by meticulously and swiftly pushing ahead with the first integration of preschool and daycare centers in 30 years."

Turning to labor, he said, "By making the labor market flexible, we must create a virtuous cycle structure that expands the workplace and improves working conditions through fair compensation."

"We will form a labor market that creates jobs by expanding freedom of choice for workers and corporations."

On the nation's low birth rate, President Yoon said, "Led by the Office of the Secretary to the President for Low Birth Rate Response, we will go back to square one to review policies proven ineffective and redesign projects by considering a beneficiary's right to choose, perception of policy and sustainability."

kimhyelin211@korea.kr