[Insight & Opinion] Designing the Future Society Must Involve Future Generations

[Asia Economy] When the author was young, most family-related decisions were made by the parents. Now, times have changed significantly. Single-person households have surpassed 30% of all households, and when combined with two-person households, they easily exceed 60%. As family structures change, the decision-making structure within families naturally changes as well. In the case of single-person households, one person has to make decisions on their own more frequently. Even in nuclear families with one child, the frequency of decision-making through communication between parents and children inevitably increases. From a societal perspective, this change means that not only older people but also younger generations are increasingly participating in decision-making.

What about decision-making at the national level? For the past 60 years, South Korea has driven social change under government leadership. Most national development plans were established top-down by the government and a small group of elites. This was also the driving force behind rapid economic growth. However, society has now become too complex. It has reached a limit where social issues and the future cannot be addressed by the government alone. While the government is capable, businesses and citizens have also become competent and smart. It is time to gather the strength and wisdom of all members of society to solve problems and create the future. Open social dialogue, communication, consultation, and cooperation have become more important than ever.

Who is leading South Korea now? It seems to be the middle-aged group in their 40s and 50s. Whether in politics, government, or business, the middle-aged generation is at the core of major decision-making and problem-solving that shapes the nation's future. There is a fundamental rule that this current central generation of middle-aged people must follow when making decisions: they must carefully consider the impact on all generations from a mid- to long-term perspective.

Especially for issues that affect society over a mid- to long-term period of more than 10 years, it is essential to make decisions that consider future generations. It is even better if decisions are made through communication and collaboration with future generations. Pensions, education, and the environment are representative examples.

Let’s take education as an example. Education not only significantly impacts individuals and society over decades but is also a representative activity that benefits future generations. However, is our education truly for future generations? Are we teaching the skills and competencies necessary for future generations to prepare for and navigate the future?

It does not seem so. We are teaching by simply repeating what past and current generations have learned. Even though the future that future generations will live in demands completely different competencies, the current generation responsible for education, including parents, must thoroughly reflect on whether they are being irresponsible toward the education of future generations.

Just as the people are the owners of the nation, the students receiving education are the owners of education. We must listen to the opinions of these owners about how education should be changed. Let us not think of them as young but as future protagonists, and communicate and consult more actively with future generations. The era of the current generation unilaterally creating curricula and injecting knowledge must end. We must move toward an era where future-generation students, who will live in the future, are taught the competencies and skills they truly need and where their potential is drawn out.

From now on, let us create the nation's future together with the people, the owners of the nation. Let us create the future by communicating more with future generations, the owners of the future. Only then can we create a better and happier future.

Kim Hyun-gon, Director of the National Assembly Future Institute