Yoon: "Proactive Efforts to Overcome Income and Education Inequality Polarization in the Second Half of My Term" (Comprehensive)

"Establishing Authentic Policies and Advancing with a Sense of Urgency"

Jeong Hye-jeon, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, is holding a briefing on current issues at the Presidential Office building in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 11th. Photo by Yonhap News

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 11th that "in the latter half of the term, proactive efforts must be made to overcome polarization such as income and educational disparities." The presidential office is reportedly preparing comprehensive policies and proactive measures to resolve polarization.

At the chief secretary meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office on the morning of the same day, President Yoon said, "In the latter half of the term, we will carefully attend to the lives of ordinary people so that the public can feel the effects," according to presidential spokesperson Jung Hye-jeon.

Spokesperson Jung explained in a briefing, "In the first half of the term, the focus was on normalizing the economy by transitioning to a private sector-led market economy that maximizes private freedom and creativity, and establishing that framework. In the latter half, the intention is to carefully attend to the lives of ordinary people so that the public can feel the effects." She added, "Especially, through multifaceted reviews, sincere policies will be established and implemented swiftly so that those in difficulty can gain opportunities and hope."

Yoon: "Cash payments are to be avoided... Multifaceted measures under review"

President Yoon’s emphasis on overcoming polarization on this day is interpreted as reflecting demands from various sectors following the midpoint of his term, calling for measures to resolve income and educational disparities. A presidential office official told reporters, "The Yoon administration remains focused on the livelihood of the people first and foremost," adding, "In the first half of the term, the market economy foundation was established through exports, investment, and employment, so in the latter half, the plan is to carefully attend to the lives of ordinary people." This means creating policies that the public can feel more microscopically and promoting proactive measures so that those in difficulty can gain opportunities and hope.

However, he expressed the intention to avoid cash payments. A presidential office official said, "Specific measures are currently being reviewed from multiple angles, and since comprehensive policies are being prepared, there will be opportunities to announce them once they are finalized," adding, "Stably managing grocery prices directly related to people’s livelihoods could be one issue, and there is an event related to small business owners and self-employed individuals scheduled for early next month, which is also part of this."

Additionally, the official said, "Education and healthcare are also being promoted from the perspective of helping those who are very vulnerable, so there may be overlapping areas," and "We are comprehensively preparing how the 4+1 reforms and polarization resolution issues will connect."

Regarding financial support to resolve polarization, the official stated, "Government support is expected to be inevitably involved, but proactive measures do not necessarily mean only financial support," adding, "The important point is the intention to create tailored policies that can be felt by those who are truly in difficulty."