President Moon: "Dramatic Expansion of Employment Insurance Coverage"... Opening the 'Era of Employment Insurance for All Workers' (Update)

'Korean-Style Unemployment Assistance' National Employment Support System to Be Implemented Soon... Legislative Action Needed in National Assembly

President Moon Jae-in is delivering a special address to the nation on the morning of the 10th, marking the third anniversary of his inauguration, at the Chuncheon Hall of the Blue House. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Son Sun-hee] President Moon Jae-in said on the 10th, "We will drastically expand the coverage of employment insurance and implement the National Employment Support System to raise the level of our employment safety net to a higher stage."

In a special speech marking the third anniversary of his inauguration at 11 a.m. at the Chuncheon Press Center, President Moon said, "We will protect the lives of all citizens from unemployment and threats to their livelihoods."

President Moon stated, "The history of humanity shows that during times of crisis, welfare has been expanded and safety nets strengthened," adding, "The current COVID-19 crisis demands that we build a stronger employment safety net, which remains vulnerable." As evidence, he cited how the United States established the foundation of its social security system during the Great Depression and how Korea introduced the Basic Livelihood Security System following the International Monetary Fund (IMF) financial crisis.

President Moon expressed his determination, saying, "We will lay the foundation for an 'employment insurance era for all citizens' where every worker receives employment insurance benefits," and added, "We will promptly promote the enrollment of low-wage, non-regular workers who are still not covered, and quickly eliminate blind spots in employment insurance for special employment workers, platform workers, freelancers, and artists." He also said, "The application of employment insurance to self-employed individuals will be gradually expanded through social consensus."

President Moon emphasized, "Expanding the employment safety net is also a necessary task for the dynamism of our economy," and said, "We will revise laws and systems to gradually broaden the scope of employment insurance." He requested, "The understanding and cooperation of the National Assembly are very important," and asked, "Please support this through legislation."

President Moon Jae-in is answering questions from the press after delivering a special national address at the Blue House Chuncheon Hall on the morning of the 10th, marking the third anniversary of his inauguration. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Along with this, President Moon said, "We will promptly implement the National Employment Support System, a Korean-style unemployment assistance system," emphasizing, "If employment insurance is the primary employment safety net, the National Employment Support System is the secondary safety net. It is an essential safety net for citizens preparing for employment or those in long-term unemployment."

The National Employment Support System is a program that provides customized employment support such as vocational training and income support like job-seeking promotion allowances for low-income groups, youth, and small self-employed individuals.

President Moon reiterated, "The law has already been submitted to the National Assembly following an agreement by the Economic, Social and Labor Council," and urged, "I hope it will be promptly processed."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.