Ha Tae-kyung Pledges to Abolish Birth Promotion Policy... "Let's Create a Happier Country Even with a Declining Population"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Naju-seok] Ha Tae-kyung, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, proposed abolishing the 'pro-natal policy' as a campaign pledge on the 19th. He emphasized that instead of forcing people to have children, society should seek ways for everyone to be happy even if the population decreases.

On this day, Rep. Ha stated, "We need to break free from the 20th-century obsession that population must be increased at all costs and change our mindset," adding, "I promise to abolish the pro-natal policy and shift the population policy direction to a 'country where all citizens are happier even if the population declines.'"

Rep. Ha explained, "Since 2006, our country has poured 270 trillion won in finances to overcome low birth rates. However, the total fertility rate plummeted to 0.84 last year, and the situation is worsening," adding, "The core cause of low birth rates is a socio-cultural phenomenon marked by increases in non-marriage and childlessness. Non-marriage and childlessness are socio-cultural phenomena common to all advanced countries, arising as women's social participation increases and their desire for self-realization grows."

He argued, "We must break free from the 20th-century obsession that population must be increased at all costs and change our mindset," emphasizing, "We need to escape the vicious cycle where the nation sets an impossible goal as a national objective and all citizens suffer stress."

Rep. Ha promised to correct unfair discrimination against single-person households. He said, "People living alone or without children, according to their choices and circumstances, have the right to live happily," and added, "I will create a single-person household track in the housing sales system and increase the supply of small-sized housing to correct discrimination."

Additionally, he announced plans to increase the child welfare budget instead of providing childbirth grants, and to activate public babysitter systems to create a 'country where it is good to work while raising children.' He also stated that he would respond to population decline through methods such as revitalizing local economies.

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