Lee Jae Myung Says "Basic Society Is Difficult Now, But Not Abandoned"

Democratic Party Primary Candidates Attend OhmyTV Debate
Kim Dong Yeon: "Premature"... Kim Kyung Soo: "Start by Addressing Elderly Poverty"
Lee Jae Myung: "Not an Immediate Task, but Preparation Is Necessary"

Lee Jae Myung, former leader of the Democratic Party of Korea and a preliminary candidate for the presidential election, stated regarding his previously promoted Basic Society policy, "It is not that we have given up on it, but rather that the current difficulties in the economy and growth make it challenging to pursue right now."

Lee Jae Myung (left), Kim Dong Yeon, and Kim Kyung Soo, preliminary candidates in the Democratic Party of Korea's 21st presidential primary, are taking a commemorative photo before the debate held at the OhmyTV studio in Yeouido, Seoul on April 23, 2025. Photo by National Assembly Press Photographers Group

On April 23, during a debate for the Democratic Party of Korea's 21st presidential primary hosted by OhmyTV, Lee made these remarks. During his turn for initiative debate, he asked the other two candidates for their opinions on the Basic Society concept.

Before posing his question, Lee said, "With the advent of the era of artificial intelligence, as productivity increases, it is inevitable that the number of jobs and the demand for human labor will decrease." He continued, "To prepare for this, we need to move beyond a welfare society toward a universal Basic Society guaranteed by the state."

Kim Dong Yeon, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, responded, "I agree with the intention, but my perspective is somewhat different." He added, "If we assume a distant future where a minority works and the majority does not, a basic income system would be necessary. However, until then, we should focus on ways to increase productivity." He emphasized, "For now, it is a bit premature."

Kim Kyung Soo, former Governor of South Gyeongsang Province, also said, "I agree with the direction," but questioned, "However, even according to a recent report, wouldn't moving directly to a basic income system pose problems for government finances?"

He continued, "We need to address this step by step, and the most essential element of a Basic Society is poverty alleviation." He pointed out, "Nearly 10 percent of the population lives below the absolute poverty line," and added, "In particular, I believe we should begin by addressing poverty among the elderly who were responsible for the era of industrialization."

In response to the two candidates' remarks, Lee said, "I agree with the opinion that the Basic Society policy is premature," but added, "Although it is not something we must implement immediately, we do need to prepare for it."