President Lee Jae Myung (fifth from left) on Oct. 14 gives the opening speech at a ceremony announcing his administration's vision for population strategy at Cheong Wa Dae.

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Cheong Wa Dae

President Lee Jae Myung says, "Now is precisely the turning point to change the structure and framework of the Republic of Korea's population policy," adding, "We need a fundamental redesign of our entire socio-economic system to match demographic changes."

"The population strategy vision is a critical task affecting the fate of the Republic of Korea," he said on Oct. 14 at a declaration ceremony for his administration's vision for population strategy at the official state guesthouse of Yeongbingwan at Cheong Wa Dae.

"Over the last 20 years, successive administrations expanded institutional foundations to tackle the low birth rate and aging society and invested enormous related financing for these ends," he added. "The population issue is growing increasingly complex and deepening as a structural problem."

"The population issue is a society-wide problem stemming from a traditional environment in which individuals bear the responsibilities of childcare and parenting, along with anxiety over the future, lack of opportunities and disparities of even those few opportunities in the hands of a select few," he added. "The ultimate objective is to build a nation where everyone can lead a happy life throughout their entire lives."

"A starting point in the population issue can emerge only if people have hope that they and their families can live happily regardless of where or with whom," he said. "Population policy also affects labor and welfare and must cover employment, housing and education."

President Lee mentioned as opportunities growth in the number of births for two straight years, 6.1% increase in the number of marriages and the historic transformation ushered in by the artificial intelligence (AI) from a long-term perspective. "This is a chance to redesign all of our social systems like industry, jobs, education and care."

"We need a major shift in population policy toward qualitative growth," he added. "We must devise comprehensive measures for marriage, childbirth and parenting while raising the role of government in care and qualitatively improving the work environment."

President Lee Jae Myung (fourth from left) on Oct. 14 applauds with visitors to a ceremony for announcing his administration's population strategy vision at the official state guesthouse Yeongbingwan at Cheong Wa Dae.

arete@korea.kr