Yoon: "Low Birthrate Policy Must Be Restructured... Raise Rank and Privileges of Low Birthrate Committee Vice Chairman"

Emphasis on Measures to Address Low Birthrate in Opening Remarks at the Cabinet Meeting

President Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized on the 20th, "We must thoroughly analyze the root causes of low birth rates and carefully review the numerous policies previously implemented, restructuring the low birth rate policies accordingly."

In particular, to restructure birth policies and reorganize the system, he announced that the Vice Chairman of the Low Birth Rate and Aging Society Committee will be changed to a full-time position, with rank and privileges upgraded, and will also attend the Cabinet meetings. Since comprehensive government measures are essential to address the low birth rate issue, the strategy is to establish an inter-ministerial cooperation system through the Low Birth Rate Committee.

President Yoon stated this during the Cabinet meeting he presided over in the afternoon at the Yongsan Presidential Office, saying, "We have confirmed through past experience that the problem cannot be solved with the same responses as before."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon said, "The total fertility rate for 2023 will be announced in a few days. We will once again confirm with numbers how serious our low birth rate problem is," adding, "It is true that there is no immediate solution to the low birth rate issue that can be resolved in a short period."

According to the government, the total fertility rate is expected to drop to 0.68. Moreover, the population aged 70 and above is projected to surpass the population in their 20s for the first time in history, indicating that Korea’s chronic low birth rate and aging problems are likely to deepen further.

President Yoon said, "Our youth today face insecurity in child-rearing, employment, and housing," and added, "If the measures are not tangible and clearly felt, no policy will be effective."

He also introduced the government’s stance to do its best in structural reforms in labor and education to alleviate excessive competition, discover birth and child-rearing policies, and promote balanced regional development.

In particular, he mentioned, "We have newly appointed the Vice Chairman of the Low Birth Rate Committee and reorganized the system. I hope they will play the role of a control tower in responding to the low birth rate with extraordinary determination," and added, "The Vice Chairman position will be changed from part-time to full-time, with rank and privileges upgraded, and a place will be created for them to discuss state affairs together with you at Cabinet meetings."

He urged the government, "Each ministry should work closely with the Low Birth Rate Committee to intensively discuss low birth rate measures and promptly implement the discussed policies."

Furthermore, he expressed, "I am truly pleased and grateful that corporate efforts to overcome the low birth rate, such as unprecedentedly large childbirth incentives, are spreading recently," and promised to prepare various support measures including tax benefits.

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