Yoon: "Upgrading Public Education with Neulbom School... Will Definitely Achieve Medical Reform" (Comprehensive)

Presiding Over Follow-up Action Review Meeting of People's Livelihood Forum
Chosen as Attachment Task by Neulbom School
Reiterates Commitment to Complete Medical Reform

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a follow-up meeting to review measures after the public livelihood discussion held at the Government Complex Sejong on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 2nd, "Suppressing private education to normalize public education is not correct," adding, "We will discover that public education can be upgraded through Neulbom School."

On the afternoon of the same day, President Yoon presided over a follow-up meeting to review measures after the 'Social Sector' public livelihood discussion under the theme of 'A Government Caring for People's Livelihoods Until Problems Are Solved' at the Government Complex Sejong. During the meeting, President Yoon actively expressed his opinions on Neulbom School and medical reform, which were introduced as tasks during the public livelihood discussion, and requested inter-ministerial support.

Highlighting Neulbom School as a project he is particularly attached to, President Yoon said, "Neulbom School was initiated as part of establishing a national care system, but it is designed so that the younger generation can overcome challenges through their own efforts rather than naturally inheriting their parents' social status," emphasizing, "It is not about flat fairness but about providing fair opportunities from a long-term generational perspective." He continued, "In the past, normalizing public education was often thought to mean suppressing private education, but suppressing private education to normalize public education does not seem right."

President Yoon explained, "Everyone should be able to receive good education through public education," adding, "Public education involves many students and friends, which can actually stimulate competitiveness and offers the advantage of learning about external relationships and the concept of 'we' within a community." He further stated, "Public education can also be well developed by the government," urging inter-ministerial efforts to actively expand and stabilize Neulbom School as it can upgrade public education.

Yoon: "Medical Reform Needed to Prepare for Aging Society"

Additionally, President Yoon referred to the national address on medical reform delivered the previous day, reiterating the necessity of medical reform and requesting inter-ministerial consideration to revitalize essential and regional medical services. He expressed his determination to complete medical reform, saying, "Although we are currently facing difficulties due to collective actions by some doctors, we will definitely achieve medical reform for the people."

He mentioned, "Some argue that with a declining birthrate and shrinking population, there may be no need to reinforce medical personnel, but that is ignoring reality," emphasizing, "Medical reform is being pursued on three fronts: strengthening essential medical fields, maintaining equity among regions, and preparing for an aging society, requiring inter-ministerial efforts."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a follow-up measures inspection meeting after the public livelihood discussion held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 2nd. [Photo by Yonhap News]

In particular, regarding policies announced at the public livelihood discussion, President Yoon ordered, "Each ministry should swiftly implement follow-up measures so that policy effects appear more quickly, and find ways to promote policies that match the public's perspective so that citizens can easily find and benefit from them." This was aimed at ensuring that the policies arising from the 24 rounds of public livelihood discussions are fully felt by the people.

The meeting was convened to review the implementation of rapid follow-up tasks from the public livelihood discussions and future plans, and to communicate improved policies to the public in an easily understandable manner. Since January, President Yoon has held 24 public livelihood discussions over about three months, listening to the public's demands and announcing policy tasks related to citizens, businesses, and local governments.

Yoon: "Saying 'We Will Review' Means 'We Won't'... Action Must Follow"

President Yoon said, "While conducting the public livelihood discussions, I repeatedly emphasized two things: one is to not just review but to quickly take action, and the second is the principle of breaking down walls." He explained, "To the public, saying 'we will review' essentially means 'we won't do it.' Many people have been frustrated hearing only that their issues are under review. Therefore, the principle of the public livelihood discussions is to not just review but to swiftly take action."

President Yoon evaluated that the working methods of public officials have also changed significantly through the public livelihood discussions. "Above all, they first consider field problems from the perspective of the policy demanders?the people?and break down walls between ministries to brainstorm and quickly find solutions," he said. "The high walls between local and central governments have been dismantled, enabling organic collaboration to solve regional issues."

He added, "As a result of this approach, the government has decided on a total of 240 follow-up tasks, and on average, about 10 government action tasks are identified and swiftly resolved after each public livelihood discussion."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is speaking at a follow-up measures inspection meeting after the public livelihood discussion held at the Government Sejong Complex on the 2nd. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon also mentioned tasks that were immediately resolved through the public livelihood discussions. For example, at the 10th public livelihood discussion held on February 8, after hearing the unfair story of a self-employed person who was suspended from business due to being deceived by a forged youth ID, President Yoon immediately instructed the responsible officials on-site to resolve the issue. The government promptly issued an official document and revised the related enforcement decree at the Cabinet meeting on the 26th of last month. Other actions included implementing one-stop administrative services, disclosing probability-type items, and establishing collective and distributed damage relief measures.

President Yoon explained, "Through the public livelihood discussions, we have eased regulations felt by the public in daily life, creating tangible changes," adding, "Since deciding to abolish the Device Distribution Act, the government has immediately implemented what it can, such as revising enforcement decrees, resulting in expanded subsidies for device purchases and the introduction of various rate plans, thereby reducing the public's communication costs."

Following this, Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, reported the progress of follow-up measures from the public livelihood discussions to President Yoon. Presentations and discussions were held on excellent achievements and cases including one-stop administrative services, large mart business regulations, strengthening gamers' rights, abolishing the Device Distribution Act, Neulbom School, and improvements in youth ID verification. After the discussion, Jang Mi-ran, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, reported on the 'National Policy Communication Plan' to easily convey improved policies to the public.

"Benchmarking Former President Park Chung-hee's Export Promotion Strategy Meetings"

In his closing remarks, President Yoon said about the public livelihood discussions, "This method was started around the fall after the government was inaugurated two years ago, benchmarking the 'Export Promotion Strategy Meetings' directly chaired about 180 times by former President Park Chung-hee," adding, "We ask everyone to continue to develop and advance the public livelihood discussions, which discover policies and seek solutions centered on the demanders?the people." President Yoon plans to next review follow-up measures in the economic sector.

Attending the discussion were Prime Minister Han Duck-soo; Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education; Lee Jong-ho, Minister of Science and ICT; Lee Sang-min, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Ahn Deok-geun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; Oh Young-joo, Minister of SMEs and Startups; Kim Hong-il, Chairman of the Korea Communications Commission; Bang Gi-seon, Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination; and Han Ki-jung, Chairman of the Fair Trade Commission. From the Presidential Office, Sung Tae-yoon, Chief of Policy Office; Jang Sang-yoon, Senior Secretary for Social Affairs; and Park Sang-wook, Senior Secretary for Science and Technology, were present.