Woo Won-sik "Low Birthrate Issue, National Assembly's Role Important... No Ruling or Opposition Party Ahead of Population Crisis"

Speaker Woo Won-sik of the National Assembly urged both ruling and opposition parties to reach consensus in addressing the low birthrate issue.

The Kwanhun Forum hosted by Speaker Woo Won-sik was held on the 24th at the Seoul Press Center. Before the forum, Speaker Woo delivered the keynote speech. Photo by Heo Young-han younghan@

On the 26th, at the '2024 Korea Population Forum in the National Assembly' hosted by CBS at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Yeouido, Seoul, Speaker Woo said in his congratulatory speech, "It has been 20 years since the low birthrate issue became a national agenda, but efforts to reverse the total fertility rate have failed," adding, "This shows that population issues require a structural and comprehensive approach rather than one or two measures." He continued, "We should not approach this by leaving education, childcare, jobs, and work-family balance to individuals alone," emphasizing, "There must be a bold policy shift toward fundamentally and structurally resolving problems so that young people can choose marriage and childbirth."

Speaker Woo stated, "The role of the National Assembly is more important than ever," and said, "There are many issues that need to be legislated and institutionalized in the mid- to long-term, not just short-term remedies." He also explained, "There is no ruling or opposition party when it comes to population issues. Population issues, which require the gathering of social and national capabilities, need bipartisan solutions and are areas where immediate implementation is possible."

He urged that the pledges commonly proposed by both ruling and opposition parties in the 22nd general election should be realized first. Speaker Woo said, "Although the specific contents of the pledges differ slightly, there are many common points," adding, "The establishment of a dedicated population management department was a common pledge of several parties in the last general election, and it is something that must be done and can definitely be accomplished." He further emphasized, "Starting with areas where opinions are close, such as parental leave, and then tackling fundamental and structural issues together is exactly the kind of National Assembly the public desires," and pledged, "As Speaker, I will support this with special interest and responsibility."

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