In response to rapid societal changes driven by artificial intelligence (AI), low birth rates, aging populations, and regional decline, the South Korean government and academia convened to outline new social security policies for future generations.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare hosted the '1st Future Social Security Forum' on June 26 at the Royal Hotel Seoul, in collaboration with the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the Korean Association of Social Welfare Studies. This forum is designed to be more than a one-time event; it aims to proactively address upcoming social risks and explore long-term directions for social security policy.
The forum, which features close cooperation among the government, national research institutions, and academia, will continue in three key sessions until the end of the year.
During the first session, three main topics were discussed, with numerous experts leading the discussions. The first session focused on 'The Role and Direction of Social Security in the Era of AI Transformation,' addressing the impact of AI on society and the redesign of the social security system. Dr. Kim Ki-tae from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs presented on 'Technological Change, Social Risks, and Policy Responses,' diagnosing new social risks arising from technological advancements. Dr. Jang Ji-yeon from the Korea Labor Institute emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul of systems to adapt to changes in the labor market in her presentation on 'Initial Responses and Structural Redesign of Social Security in the AX Era.'
The second session addressed 'Building a Social Security System through Central-Local Cooperation in the Era of Decentralization.' Kim I-bae, a specialist from the Association of City and County Mayors, highlighted the importance of rational power distribution in his presentation on 'Functional and Role Distribution between Central and Local Governments in Social Security.' Jeong Ji-young, director of the Korean Cooperative Research Institute, proposed solutions for strengthening local welfare foundations through her presentation on 'Activating Social Solidarity Economy to Revitalize Regions.'
The final session explored 'Implementing Basic Social Systems and Future Directions for Social Security.' In the income sector, Eun Min-soo, head of the Korea Health and Welfare Human Resources Institute, discussed 'Alternative Income Security Policies for Realizing Basic Social Systems,' while Dr. Kim Sung-ah from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs addressed 'Income and Asset Inequality Among Youth.'
In the care sector, Dr. Hwang Joo-hee from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs presented on 'Application and Policy Directions for Basic Services and Care,' while Dr. Shin Hyun-woong from the same institute discussed 'Establishing Concepts and Directions for Basic Medical Services,' proposing policies for building a basic service system.
The Ministry plans to use this forum as a stepping stone to actively identify future social security policy tasks and, through research collaborations with academic institutions, release a final 'Future Social Security Policy Proposal' by December of this year.
Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong emphasized in her opening remarks that, "In the face of rapid social changes due to the AI digital transformation, demographic shifts, and regional extinction crises, it is time to prepare a social security system that proactively responds to the risks of future society, beyond merely supplementing existing systems. Given that the youth generation faces structural risks such as labor withdrawal, income gaps, and isolation, we will continue to discuss ways to ensure their basic livelihoods and support their social participation."
She added, "We will actively review and concretize the various opinions raised in this forum to ensure they are practically reflected in future social security policies and system improvements."
The Ministry of Health and Welfare hosted the '1st Future Social Security Forum' on June 26 at the Royal Hotel Seoul, in collaboration with the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs and the Korean Association of Social Welfare Studies. This forum is designed to be more than a one-time event; it aims to proactively address upcoming social risks and explore long-term directions for social security policy.
The forum, which features close cooperation among the government, national research institutions, and academia, will continue in three key sessions until the end of the year.
During the first session, three main topics were discussed, with numerous experts leading the discussions. The first session focused on 'The Role and Direction of Social Security in the Era of AI Transformation,' addressing the impact of AI on society and the redesign of the social security system. Dr. Kim Ki-tae from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs presented on 'Technological Change, Social Risks, and Policy Responses,' diagnosing new social risks arising from technological advancements. Dr. Jang Ji-yeon from the Korea Labor Institute emphasized the need for a comprehensive overhaul of systems to adapt to changes in the labor market in her presentation on 'Initial Responses and Structural Redesign of Social Security in the AX Era.'
The second session addressed 'Building a Social Security System through Central-Local Cooperation in the Era of Decentralization.' Kim I-bae, a specialist from the Association of City and County Mayors, highlighted the importance of rational power distribution in his presentation on 'Functional and Role Distribution between Central and Local Governments in Social Security.' Jeong Ji-young, director of the Korean Cooperative Research Institute, proposed solutions for strengthening local welfare foundations through her presentation on 'Activating Social Solidarity Economy to Revitalize Regions.'
The final session explored 'Implementing Basic Social Systems and Future Directions for Social Security.' In the income sector, Eun Min-soo, head of the Korea Health and Welfare Human Resources Institute, discussed 'Alternative Income Security Policies for Realizing Basic Social Systems,' while Dr. Kim Sung-ah from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs addressed 'Income and Asset Inequality Among Youth.'
In the care sector, Dr. Hwang Joo-hee from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs presented on 'Application and Policy Directions for Basic Services and Care,' while Dr. Shin Hyun-woong from the same institute discussed 'Establishing Concepts and Directions for Basic Medical Services,' proposing policies for building a basic service system.
The Ministry plans to use this forum as a stepping stone to actively identify future social security policy tasks and, through research collaborations with academic institutions, release a final 'Future Social Security Policy Proposal' by December of this year.
Minister Jeong Eun-kyeong emphasized in her opening remarks that, "In the face of rapid social changes due to the AI digital transformation, demographic shifts, and regional extinction crises, it is time to prepare a social security system that proactively responds to the risks of future society, beyond merely supplementing existing systems. Given that the youth generation faces structural risks such as labor withdrawal, income gaps, and isolation, we will continue to discuss ways to ensure their basic livelihoods and support their social participation."
She added, "We will actively review and concretize the various opinions raised in this forum to ensure they are practically reflected in future social security policies and system improvements."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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