President Lee Urges Companies to Join in Addressing Youth Employment at First Sejong Cabinet Meeting

President Lee Jaemyung Presides Over First Cabinet Meeting at Government Complex Sejong Since Taking Office
"Youth Employment Outlook for Second Half Unfavorable... Multi-layered Support Measures to Be Implemented"
"Government and Companies Must Ove

On September 16, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "The outlook for the youth employment market in the second half of the year is not bright. The government will implement multi-layered support measures to help young people acquire the skills needed in the field and will work to lower barriers to entry into the labor market." He also called on companies to join efforts to resolve youth employment issues.

Yonhap News Agency

On this day, during his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong-the first such meeting he has presided over since taking office-President Lee said, "This week is Youth Week. According to the August employment trends, the overall employment rate is at an all-time high, but the number of employed young people has been declining for 16 consecutive months." He added, "Please pursue youth job expansion policies with particular care, as they are directly related to future growth engines."

He also urged companies to participate. President Lee said, "There is a saying that it takes a whole village to raise a child," and emphasized, "To solve youth employment issues, not only the government but also companies must make efforts." He continued, "The government is doing its utmost to support companies so they can conduct their business activities smoothly. Just as companies have overcome trade challenges with the Team Korea spirit, I ask that they also join forces to overcome the youth employment crisis."

President Lee further stated, "Creating new jobs for young people is absolutely necessary," and earnestly appealed, "Let us open a new path for economic growth where youth, businesses, and the nation all win together."

Additionally, President Lee stressed that achieving balanced national development is essential for sustainable growth. He said, "In the past, we focused our limited resources intensively, resulting in unbalanced growth and a Seoul metropolitan area-centered system. Now, the concentration in the capital region has reached its limit, and local areas are facing the risk of extinction, making Korea's sustainable growth difficult. I believe balanced national development is not a choice but a destiny."

He also pledged to accelerate the 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones' strategy. This strategy refers to a national balanced development plan in which the five regions-Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, Southeast region, Daegu-Gyeongbuk region, and Honam region-serve as growth centers, while three special self-governing provinces-Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju-are developed as special zones to break the dominance of the capital area and secure growth engines for each region.

President Lee said, "This is why the government uses the term 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones.' It means fostering five development hubs, including areas outside the capital region, as well as nurturing three special self-governing provinces-Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju." He continued, "We must accelerate the implementation of this initiative." In particular, President Lee reiterated, "The completion of 'Administrative Capital Sejong' is the cornerstone of balanced development," and promised, "We will ensure the construction of the Sejong presidential office and the Sejong National Assembly building proceeds without delay."