Yoon "Preparing to Establish Low Birthrate Secretariat"... To Be Formed as Soon as Possible (Comprehensive Report 2)

Directive at Senior Secretary Meeting on the Morning of the 13th
Opposition's Nationwide 250,000 Won Special Law Proposal Called "Unconstitutional Idea"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is holding a press conference on the morning of the 9th at the briefing room of the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul to mark the 2nd anniversary of his inauguration. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol on the 13th instructed to "prepare for the establishment of the Low Birthrate 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 Office," adding, "At the subsequent weekly meeting led by Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, he urged thorough efforts to ensure that recent improvements in economic indicators such as exports, growth, and employment translate into tangible benefits for the public."

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)' to address low birthrate and aging population issues. Before creating a new ministry, he took this step to create a related chief secretary office within the Presidential Office to fully concentrate on low birthrate affairs.

At the press conference, President Yoon defined the low birthrate and aging population problem as a "national emergency" and presented a blueprint stating, "The minister of the Low Birthrate Department will serve as the 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 Office, saying, "The Low Birthrate Office is still 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." The official continued, "While it could be handled within an existing chief secretary office, the government wants to show its strong commitment to prioritizing and solving this issue by creating a separate chief secretary office dedicated to it."

Presidential Office Expands to Three Directors and Eight Chief Secretaries

Regarding the composition and appointment of the Low Birthrate Office, a Presidential Office official said, "Creating the chief secretary office is one way to express the strong will to actively respond to the low birthrate issue," adding, "Although there is no specific timeline yet, we will listen carefully to various opinions and find the right person to form the Low Birthrate Office as soon as possible."

On the same day, a Presidential Office official told Asia Economy, "If a ministry for low birthrate is established, a dedicated chief secretary office will be necessary. The current Social Affairs Chief Secretary has a very broad scope covering education and welfare, making it impossible to focus solely on low birthrate," and added, "President Yoon’s strong will to devote full efforts to the low birthrate issue is actively reflected in this decision."

President Yoon’s statement on establishing the Low Birthrate 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, major organizational restructuring will be necessary 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 will need to be transferred.

The newly established Low Birthrate Office is expected to be placed under the Policy Chief Secretary. With the addition of the Low Birthrate Office, the Presidential Office will expand from the recent structure of three directors and seven chief secretaries?following the revival of the Civil Affairs Chief Secretary Office?to three directors and eight chief secretaries.

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]

Meanwhile, the Presidential Office clearly opposed the Democratic Party’s proposal to provide a special support payment of 250,000 won per person nationwide through a special act. A Presidential Office official stated, "Everyone knows that the authority to allocate the budget belongs to the executive branch, and this is also stipulated in the Constitution," adding, "The idea that the legislature would take over budget allocation itself is unconstitutional."

Regarding criticism from the opposition about President Yoon’s recent visit to Yeongcheon Market in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, where he made a remark about "sea squirts and soju" during a conversation with merchants, the Presidential Office expressed regret, saying, "It is unfortunate to distort and belittle the President’s intention to encourage and comfort the merchants by exaggerating a trivial word or sentence." The official added, "I recall that the conversation at the scene was conducted with smiles," and said, "If this incident leads to increased sales for that store, wouldn’t that also be a good thing?"