Yoon "Preparing to Establish Low Birthrate Secretariat"... To Form It as Soon as Possible (Comprehensive)

Directive at the Chief Secretary Meeting on the Morning of the 13th

Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is giving a briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 13th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 13th instructed to "prepare for the establishment of the Low Birthrate Chief Office."

Kim Soo-kyung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, held a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office in the afternoon and stated, "President Yoon instructed at the chief secretary meeting this morning to prepare for the establishment of the Low Birthrate Chief Office," adding, "At the subsequent weekly meeting with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, he asked to ensure that recent improvements in economic indicators such as exports, growth, and employment are connected to tangible improvements in people’s livelihoods."

At the press conference marking his second anniversary in office on the 9th, President Yoon announced plans to establish a 'Low Birthrate Response Planning Department (tentative name)' in response to low birthrates and aging population. Before creating a new ministry, he took this step to create a related chief office within the Presidential Office to fully focus on low birthrate issues.

Earlier, at the second anniversary press conference, President Yoon defined the low birthrate and aging population issue as a "national emergency" and presented a blueprint to have the Minister of the Low Birthrate Department serve as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs to formulate policies encompassing education, labor, and welfare.

A Presidential Office official explained the background of establishing the Low Birthrate Chief Office, saying, "You can consider the Low Birthrate Chief Office to be at the initial stage today," and added, "There is likely no disagreement that the low birthrate issue is one of the biggest problems affecting the sustainability of our society. In that context, although the issue could be handled within an existing chief office, it was judged more appropriate to create a separate chief office dedicated to this issue to show the government's strong will to prioritize and resolve it."

Regarding the composition and appointment of the Low Birthrate Chief Office, the official said, "The decision to create the chief office is one expression of the strong will to actively respond to the low birthrate issue," adding, "There is no specific timeline set yet for completion, but we will listen carefully to various opinions and find the right person to form the Low Birthrate Chief Office as soon as possible."

On the same day, a Presidential Office official told Asia Economy, "If a low birthrate ministry is created, a dedicated chief office to handle low birthrate issues will be necessary. The existing Social Chief Office has a very broad scope covering education and welfare, so it cannot fully focus on low birthrate issues," and further explained, "This reflects President Yoon’s strong will to have a dedicated chief to fully concentrate on the low birthrate problem."

President Yoon’s statement on establishing the Low Birthrate Chief Office was made for the first time that day and is seen as a concrete step toward realizing the plan to create the Low Birthrate Response Planning Department. Since establishing a new ministry requires amending the Government Organization Act, cooperation from the opposition Democratic Party is essential. Additionally, as functions and organizations from related departments such as the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Economy and Finance, Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, and Ministry of Gender Equality and Family need to be transferred, a large-scale organizational restructuring will also be necessary.