Transition Team Examines Population Measures...Is There a Focus on Establishing a Future Family Ministry?

Choi Ji-hyun, Senior Deputy Spokesperson of the Presidential Transition Committee, is holding a regular briefing on the 8th at the briefing room of the 20th Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] As the Presidential Transition Committee (PTC) decides to actively address the issue of population decline, the possibility of establishing a Ministry of Future Families as an alternative to abolishing the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family (MOGEF) is gaining renewed attention.

According to the PTC on the 8th, the 'Population Task Force (TF)' within the PTC Planning Committee is set to launch as early as this week. The team leader will be Professor Cho Young-tae, a demographer at Seoul National University College of Public Health.

The Population TF was formed to consider solutions to the population cliff problem caused by low birth rates, viewing it as one of the pressing issues for the next government. The policy directions emerging from this task force are expected to influence the new government's organizational restructuring, including the potential abolition of MOGEF, according to the PTC.

With the establishment of an organization within the PTC dedicated to addressing population decline, there is analysis that this may strengthen the case for creating the Ministry of Future Families. As alternatives to abolishing MOGEF, proposals include transferring MOGEF’s policy functions to various ministries or establishing the Ministry of Future Families. The former could result in a reduction of MOGEF’s existing functions, while the latter is closer to a functional reorganization. This would place greater emphasis on 'family' policies rather than 'women' within the ministry, potentially enhancing the ministry’s role.

Choi Ji-hyun, the PTC senior deputy spokesperson, stated, "The establishment of the Ministry of Future Families is being considered as one option in conjunction with fulfilling the pledge to abolish MOGEF," adding that the Population TF may also discuss whether to establish the Ministry of Future Families. Choi further noted, "Finding solutions to the population cliff will inevitably be considered in the process of restructuring MOGEF, and it is one of the most important topics."

Who the PTC appoints as the minister of MOGEF will also serve as an indicator of future direction. Both the possibility of selecting a current lawmaker with political acumen and the appointment of an expert in population and family policy are being discussed inside and outside the PTC.

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