Suncheon City Council's Remark on "Promoting a Desirable Childcare Environment" Sparks Attention

Assemblywoman Lee Young-ran Proposes Introduction of Children's Fast-Track Policy

Lee Young-ran, a member of the Jeonnam Suncheon City Council (Democratic Party·Wangjo 2), recently gained attention for her "Call for Creating a Desirable Childcare Environment" during a free speech session at the 1st plenary meeting of the 271st extraordinary session.

Lee stated, "Before preparing childbirth and childcare support policies to solve the low birthrate problem, the basic premise must be social awareness, and along with practical benefits, appropriate psychological compensation should be provided."

Councilor Lee Young-ran of Suncheon City Council [Photo by Suncheon City Council]

This means that in addition to policies focused on economic support, there is a need for "psychological compensation" as appropriate social recognition and gratitude from the public toward those who give birth to and raise children.

She then proposed symbolic systems in Suncheon City that could provide psychological compensation, such as discounts or exemptions on admission fees to tourist attractions like Suncheon Bay National Garden, Suncheon Bay Wetland, Nagan Eupseong, and drama filming sets, as well as the introduction of a children's fast-track policy.

During her 5-minute speech, Lee Young-ran cited David Coleman, an honorary professor and demographer at Oxford University, who warned at the 2006 UN Population Forum that "if South Korea continues its current low birthrate trend, it will completely disappear by the year 2750, becoming the first population-extinct country on Earth."

She also shared her experience at the National Museum of Copenhagen, where she received a discount on her admission fee when accompanied by her grandchild, highlighting Northern Europe's small but meticulous and advanced education and welfare policies that provide not only economic benefits but also psychological compensation.

Further explaining similar policies in neighboring Japan, she said, "Japan has launched the Child and Family Agency, a low birthrate control tower directly under the Prime Minister, announced measures to raise the male parental leave usage rate to 85%, and implemented a children's fast-track system allowing families with children and pregnant women to enter national museums and art galleries without waiting in line."

Lee Young-ran emphasized that previous low birthrate measures have focused on economic support and suggested that policies incorporating psychological compensation in daily life should first be implemented in public facilities and gradually expanded to the private sector.

She drew attention by urging Suncheon City to be the first local government nationwide to institutionalize the awareness that "Our children are precious to all of us, and citizens raising these children are even more appreciated."

Suncheon = Lee Yeon-kyung, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy hss79@asiae.co.kr