與 "Next Year's Budget Proposal Must Significantly Increase Support for Vulnerable Groups"

2025 Budget Proposal Party-Government Consultation Meeting Held
Strengthening Customized Support for Vulnerable Groups Including Senior Job Creation

On the 20th, the People Power Party requested the government, which is in the final stages of preparing next year's budget, to "significantly increase support for vulnerable groups in consideration of the difficulties faced by the public."

At the 2025 budget party-government consultation held at the National Assembly that day, Floor Leader Choo Kyung-ho said, "Although various recent economic indicators show improvement, the reality of people's livelihoods remains very difficult." This implies the need for various policy supports from the government, including fiscal and financial measures, as the low-income economy and domestic demand are struggling.

Floor Leader Choo added, "Since difficulties are expected for small business owners and self-employed individuals, it would be good to have budget support to back up extraordinary fiscal and financial assistance for them." He also emphasized active budget allocation for addressing low birth rates, health, and public safety.

Policy Committee Chairman Kim Sang-hoon also stated, "Under the grand principle of sound fiscal management, the party and government should provide generous and focused support for expanding welfare for the vulnerable through tailored assistance, boosting economic vitality, strengthening support for future generations and youth, addressing low birth rates and aging populations critical to national survival, supporting small business owners and micro self-employed individuals, and other public safety measures."

Choi Sang-mok, Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Minister of Economy and Finance, is speaking at the party-government consultation meeting on the 2025 budget held at the National Assembly on the 20th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Choi Sang-mok identified the four major investment priorities in next year's budget as welfare for socially vulnerable groups for a better tomorrow, spreading economic vitality, structural reform for future preparedness, and safe social globalization with pivotal diplomacy.

Minister Choi explained that by raising the standard median income for three consecutive years to reinforce the basic livelihood security system, expanding senior citizen jobs and welfare housing, and strengthening tailored protection for the disabled, single parents, and vulnerable children, as well as providing jobs and educational opportunities for vulnerable groups and supplying public housing, the government aims to realize welfare for the disadvantaged.

To boost economic vitality, the plan is to strengthen full-cycle tailored support for small business owners, including burden relief, sales growth, and recovery assistance, and to improve the distribution structure of agricultural products to stabilize farmers' incomes and prices. Additionally, research and development (R&D) investment will be completely revamped into a leading model with a significant increase in support scale, supporting the advancement and export of cutting-edge industries such as artificial intelligence (AI), bio, and semiconductors.

For addressing low birth rates, investments will be expanded in five key areas: work-family balance, caregiving, housing support, completion of medical reform for workforce training, essential medical regional healthcare safety nets, and R&D, aiming at future structural improvement. Furthermore, Minister Choi mentioned that strategic diplomacy will be supported to secure national interests and prestige on the global stage.