Integrated Care: Taking the First Unwavering Step

In Korea, which has entered a super-aged society, care is no longer an issue confined to a handful of families. The number of people staying for extended periods in nursing hospitals and facilities is increasing, and the burden on families has reached its limit. The desire to "live in one's own home for as long as possible" is only natural. Integrated care represents a policy shift that moves the focus of care from hospitals and institutions to the local community. The national roadmap for community-based integrated care, set to be implemented nationwide in March 2026, is divided into three phases: introduction, stabilization, and advancement. In the first phase, the focus is on establishing the basic framework and delivery system, and on connecting existing health care, health management, long-term care, and daily living support services. The second phase aims to expand the target population and services, reduce regional disparities, and the third phase envisions a comprehensive care

2026.03.09 10:30

The World Transformed by Digital Assets: Only Korea Remains Stagnant

The global e-commerce market stands at a major inflection point defined by the "software-ization of finance." The global e-commerce platform Shopify has partnered with the cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase to introduce a stablecoin payment system. Small business owners can now receive settlements in just a few seconds, with only a 1% fee, and without the complex procedures of traditional foreign exchange remittances. This development demonstrates that digital assets are evolving from mere investment vehicles into core infrastructure that maximizes the efficiency of the real economy. In the field of digital assets, South Korea has fallen into a stagnation that does not match its reputation as an "IT powerhouse." Change is already underway, with Tether exchange ATMs installed in major domestic tourist destinations such as Myeong-dong and Namdaemun. However, delays in institutionalization have postponed the launch of related services and the delivery of user benefits. The global first-move

2026.03.04 06:30

1970.01.01 09:00

Productive Finance Must Focus on National Economic Growth and Technological Advancement

The goal of productive finance is to manage funds in a way that fosters economic growth and builds the infrastructure for technology. A representative example is the productive finance policy launched by the Bank of England in 2020. The policy's key strategies include long-term investment, venture capital investment, the injection of risk capital, fund formation, and the expansion of machinery and equipment. All these are being pursued with the aim of driving the growth of the UK economy. In Korea, the starting point for productive finance comes from reflecting on banks’ overreliance on mortgage loans. The practice of providing loans secured by officially appraised housing should be reconsidered, as such lending can be sufficiently handled by financial institutions other than banks. Recently, Chang Yong Lee, Governor of the Bank of Korea, projected that Korea’s potential growth rate could drop to the 0% range by 2040. He emphasized that, to overcome such challenges, finance must effici

2026.01.20 09:30

What Are the Challenges for Successful Implementation of the National Growth Fund Management Plan?

On December 16 of last year, the government announced the "2026 National Growth Fund Management Plan." The National Growth Fund aims to foster strategic high-tech industries by securing more than 30 trillion won annually, totaling 150 trillion won over five years, to be used for direct investment, indirect investment, infrastructure investment and financing, as well as loans. In short, it is a mammoth-scale initiative. The decision-making organizational structure is as follows. An Investment Review Committee is established for practical review of individual investment cases, and the final decision on whether to inject fund resources into each investment is made by the Fund Management Deliberation Committee. There is also a Secretariat to provide operational support. However, there is no mention of any management structure responsible for post-investment corporate monitoring, advisory services, or internal controls after investment decisions are made. Let us briefly review how investmen

2026.01.16 11:30

For AI Policies for SMEs to Succeed

Recently, a National Growth Fund worth 150 trillion won was established. The core focus of this fund is undoubtedly artificial intelligence (AI) technology and industry. While public attention is drawn to the strategies of major players like Nvidia and OpenAI, there is a crucial policy direction that must not be overlooked for the future of the Korean economy. That is, supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to become key players in the AI industry, and enhancing productivity and international competitiveness through AI-driven digital transformation. The recent AI support policy announced by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups can be summarized in three main directions. First, the expansion of 'manufacturing and industrial AI transformation (AX)' through inter-ministerial collaboration. The Ministry of SMEs and Startups has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to jointly promote the dev

2025.12.22 11:07

Why Swift Redevelopment and Reconstruction Are Needed Now

A Seoul Metropolitan Government survey found that it takes an average of 18 years and 6 months from the start of redevelopment or reconstruction projects in Seoul to actual move-in. From the designation of a maintenance area to project completion, the process is so lengthy that a household may have to move twice, and elderly residents often only move into new homes after retirement. At this point, it is not just a "delay in the project" but a "delay in life." The root of the problem lies not so much in the system itself as in how it is administered. While the law clearly defines requirements for redevelopment projects?such as consent rates, the degree of aging, and infrastructure standards?on the ground, even after these requirements are met, administrative discretion leads to repeated decisions of "approved" or "rejected." As a result, residents are asked to overcome yet another "invisible barrier" even after meeting legal criteria. Whether or not to proceed with a redevelopment proje

2025.12.03 09:30

Commission Fees on Pickup Sales: What Are the Long-term Impacts on the Takeout Market?

Recently, Baemin decided to impose a 6.8% commission fee on takeout orders as well. Restaurant owners, already struggling with high prices, demanded a reversal of the decision, arguing that even takeout orders are now being charged. Some consumers also expressed their intention to boycott takeout, fearing that the commission fees would lead to higher menu prices. In our society, there is a fundamentally negative perception toward intermediary fees (commissions) imposed by platforms. The prevailing view is that it is unreasonable for platforms to simply act as intermediaries between consumers and restaurants and take a commission for it. Considering the proportion and significance of platform companies in the consumer market, as well as the ongoing controversies, it is difficult to ignore these sentiments. Companies also need to listen to these voices and actively communicate in order to secure consumer trust and foster a healthier market environment. Nevertheless, it is important to re

2025.04.17 09:35

Vacant House Maintenance: The Starting Point for a Sustainable Regional Future

When visiting local communities, there is something that always catches my eye: abandoned houses left empty after people have moved out. The fact that these spaces, once the foundation of daily life, now stand vacant speaks volumes about the present and future of these regions. How many vacant houses are there in Korea today? For a while, I could not answer this question accurately. This is because the status of vacant houses is managed individually by each city, county, and district, with varying survey cycles and methods, meaning there was no unified nationwide data available. Responsibility is also divided among the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, with each managing vacant houses as needed. The closest statistical data comes from Statistics Korea, which surveys uninhabited housing. However, this only includes houses without residents at the time of the survey, which differs

2025.04.14 10:40

Expanding "Advanced Forest Management" Is Essential to Prevent Large-Scale Wildfires

Forest management involves activities such as thinning and tending trees after planting them, in order to create healthy and valuable forests. Research has shown that after forest management, carbon absorption increases by 42.7%, and water supply also rises by 43.9%. Since the 2000s, as large-scale wildfires have become more frequent due to climate change, advanced countries have implemented forest management activities in advance to prevent such fires. In the United States, during the presidency of George W. Bush in 2003, the "Healthy Forest Initiative" project was launched to promote forest management and actively pursue policies aimed at reducing fuel materials within forests to prevent wildfires. With the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) in 2022, the United States invested 3 trillion won to support healthy forest management and the removal of fuel materials from forests. Before large-scale wildfires occur, flammable fuel (trees) is thinned out in advance, and the

2025.04.10 10:30