Hong Jun-pyo Announces Major Welfare Reform Pledge... "Establish Senior Welfare Agency, Introduce Deferred Tuition Payment System"

"We Will Focus on Helping Those in Difficult Situations"

Hong Jun-pyo, a presidential primary candidate of the People Power Party, is announcing the 'Major Shift in Welfare for the Common People' pledge on the morning of the 28th at the JP Hope Camp in Yeouido, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Hong Jun-pyo, a member of the People Power Party who has been announcing 'one pledge a day,' has now presented welfare pledges. The pledges include establishing a Senior Welfare Agency and implementing a deferred tuition payment system for university students, aiming to strengthen the welfare system for socially vulnerable groups.

On the 28th, Hong held a press conference at the presidential campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, announcing seven major pledges for a 'Major Shift in Welfare for Ordinary People.' He explained the purpose of the pledges, saying, "Welfare should be at a level we can afford without passing the burden on to future generations, and it should focus on helping those in need intensively."

First, he stated that immediately upon taking office, he would establish a 'Major Shift in Welfare for Ordinary People Committee' to review the overall welfare budget. He also announced plans to introduce a 'welfare blockchain management system' to improve welfare efficiency and to create a personalized support system. Hong explained, "We will make a major shift in the welfare system centered on ordinary people and adjust the welfare structure to greatly enhance efficiency."

He also presented policies targeting different welfare recipients. For the elderly, he plans to establish a 'Senior Welfare Agency' to redesign elderly welfare policies suitable for the aging era. Additionally, he pledged to contribute to expanding elderly employment by promoting flexible work systems such as a four-day workweek and flexible working hours.

For retirees, he announced a phased reform of the health insurance premium assessment criteria from 'property' to 'income'-based. He also pledged to cover nursing care costs through health insurance to reduce the medical expenses burden on patients in long-term care hospitals and their families.

The pledges also include reducing delivery platform and online credit card fees for self-employed business owners and expanding the scope of simplified value-added tax (VAT) taxation to reduce tax burdens.

To support university students' tuition fees, he promised to implement a 'deferred tuition payment system.' The state will provide interest-free loans, and students will repay the principal after graduation once they earn a certain income. The repayment amount will be adjusted according to income levels after employment. Regarding this, Hong added, "No one will be unable to study due to lack of tuition."

For people with disabilities, he pledged to expand opportunities for university education and lifelong learning, and for those aged 65 and older, to provide care services such as assistance and long-term care services.