Yoon Appoints '40s Working Mom' Professor Yoo Hyemi as First Low Birthrate Response Chief (Comprehensive)

Senior Secretary Yoo: "We Will Slow Down the Decline in Birth Rate and Lead a Rebound"
The Only Female Senior Secretary at the Presidential Office at the Secretary Level

Professor Yoo Hyemi of Hanyang University’s Department of Economics and Finance, who was appointed as the new Chief of Low Birthrate Response at the Presidential Office, is speaking about her thoughts at the announcement of political appointments held on the 25th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol appointed Professor Yoo Hye-mi of Hanyang University’s Department of Economics and Finance as the inaugural Chief Secretary for Low Birthrate Response on the 25th.

Jung Jin-seok, Chief Secretary of the Presidential Office, announced the appointment during a briefing at the Yongsan Presidential Office that afternoon.

Professor Yoo, born in 1977, graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Economics and joined the Bank of Korea. She later pursued studies in the United States, earning a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Rochester. After serving as an assistant professor in the Department of Economics at the State University of New York at Buffalo, she became a professor at Hanyang University’s Department of Economics and Finance. Her husband, Seok Byung-hoon, is a professor in the Department of Economics at Ewha Womans University, and the couple, both economists, have received attention. They have twin children attending elementary school.

Chief Secretary Jung explained the background of the appointment, saying, “The new Chief Secretary Yoo has conducted research on various causes and solutions to South Korea’s low birthrate problem, focusing on human capital and the labor market, including studies on the impact of marriage and spouse wages and the resulting changes in labor composition on the economy. She has also researched the housing market, which significantly influences individual and family decision-making.” He added, “Alongside her research activities, she has continuously offered suggestions on the causes and solutions to the low birthrate issue through the media.”

He continued, “Chief Secretary Yoo served as the chairperson of the Inclusive Finance Special Committee under the People’s Integration Committee of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration, exploring ways to realize inclusive finance, demonstrating a high level of understanding of government policies. As a working mom raising elementary school twins, she understands practical difficulties well. Based on her accumulated expertise and experience, and her fresh perspective as a Chief Secretary in her 40s, she is expected to develop fundamental and innovative measures to overcome the low birthrate problem.”

Chief Secretary Yoo: "I Will Boldly Propose Tasks Requiring Structural Change"

New Chief Secretary Yoo expressed, “I am honored to serve as the Republic of Korea’s first Chief Secretary for Low Birthrate Response. Given the President’s declaration of a national population emergency, I feel the heavy responsibility of addressing the low birthrate issue.”

She added, “To slow the decline in fertility rates and lead a rebound, I will boldly announce and propose not only short-term policies but also tasks that require structural changes in the economy and society. Even if these measures yield results, a significant decrease in the working-age population is inevitable for some time, so I will carefully review and prepare various policies to minimize side effects.”

Chief Secretary Yoo said, “Population structure changes have wide-ranging impacts on economic growth, finance, employment, education, and welfare, so I will actively strive to communicate with multiple ministries. I will do my best to assist the President in overcoming the national population emergency and leap toward a hopeful future.”

Professor Yoo Hyemi of Hanyang University’s Department of Economics and Finance, newly appointed as the Chief of Low Birthrate Response at the Presidential Office, is speaking about her feelings at the announcement of political appointments held on the 25th at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

In the subsequent Q&A, when asked how she would address the low birthrate issue as a macroeconomic expert, Yoo replied, “Although I am a macroeconomics expert researching various fields including finance, the low birthrate and population structure changes are among the most important changes and phenomena that cannot be excluded when discussing macroeconomics, so I have conducted extensive related research.”

She continued, “Recently, I have been studying how population structure changes, income inequality, and low birthrate affect growth rates and inflation. Since the low birthrate is not simply a matter of declining fertility rates but a problem with wide-ranging impacts, I believe a macro perspective that comprehensively views various issues is necessary, and I think I can contribute significantly.”

When asked about the causes and solutions for the low birthrate, she emphasized, “The low birthrate cannot be attributed to a single cause. Policies to reduce burdens related to childbirth and child-rearing have been implemented, and now we are broadening our perspective to continuously find connections with work-family balance and other areas. I will examine these aspects and approach the issue from multiple angles.”

Regarding the establishment of the Population Strategy Planning Department, she said, “Preparing for that will be my role. I see the Low Birthrate Response Chief Secretary’s Office as a bridge between the President and relevant ministries.”

"Securing Labor Market Flexibility Is Important... Will Reflect in Policy Announcements"

In response to a reporter’s question about being known for shared parenting with her husband, Yoo answered, “Since both my husband and I hold professorships, we have been blessed with an environment that allows us to use our time more flexibly.” She added, “As a working mom, balancing work and family life is not easy, but I have had a somewhat better environment than others. Securing flexible working hours and labor market flexibility is a very important part of resolving the low birthrate issue, so I will ensure these are reflected when proposing and announcing policies for the overall economy.”

Chief Secretary Yoo is the only female chief secretary at the current Presidential Office secretary level and the second female chief secretary since Kim Eun-hye, former Chief Secretary for Public Relations, under the Yoon Suk-yeol administration. Considering that Professor Yoo is a woman in her 40s, the appointment is interpreted as reflecting diversity in the selection process.

Alongside the Low Birthrate Response Chief Secretary, Choi Han-kyung, a budget and finance expert from the Ministry of Strategy and Finance and Secretary-General of the Low Fertility and Aging Society Committee Secretariat, was appointed as Population Planning Secretary, and Choi Jong-gyun, former Director of Population Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, was appointed as Low Birthrate Response Secretary.