Full-Scale Formulation of Sector-Specific Policies Begins
On June 18, the National Policy Planning Committee began receiving policy briefings from various social ministries facing major pending issues, such as the prolonged medical service gap due to medical reform, AI textbooks, and the expansion and reorganization of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family. The committee will now begin formulating sector-specific policies in earnest.
Hanju Lee, Chairman of the National Policy Planning Committee, is speaking at the Ministry of Economy and Finance briefing held at the Government Sejong Convention Center on the 18th. Photo by Yonhap News
Starting on this day, the committee will receive briefings over three days at the Government Sejong Convention Center from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. On the first day, the Ministry of Health and Welfare is the top priority for the Social Affairs Division 1 briefing. This ministry is dealing with numerous issues closely related to people's livelihoods, such as the medical service gap caused by 16 months of ongoing conflict between the government and the medical community, the national pension system, and suicide prevention measures. On June 5, President Lee Jaemyung directly asked First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Lee Kiil, "What are the reasons for the high suicide rate?" during a public safety inspection meeting. Measures related to this issue are highly likely to be included in this policy briefing.
As for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, attention is focused on whether a report will be presented on concrete implementation plans, as President Lee pledged during his presidential campaign to expand and reorganize the ministry into the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family.
The Social Affairs Division 2 will receive briefings from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In particular, there is keen interest in the content of the briefing regarding AI digital textbooks, as President Lee pledged during his campaign to downgrade them to "educational materials." In addition, President Lee pledged to "create 10 Seoul National Universities" as part of higher education innovation, aiming to foster regional flagship national universities and promote balanced regional development. Attention is focused on whether concrete implementation plans for this initiative will be reported.
The Politics and Administration Division will receive briefings from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission, while the Foreign Affairs and Security Division will receive briefings from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Unification. The Ministry of the Interior and Safety is expected to report on review items and opinions regarding new government pledges, such as expanding the issuance of local currency (local gift certificates), decentralization, and balanced development. The National Police Agency was also scheduled to give a briefing in Sejong on the same day, but considering its location in Seoul, the briefing has been rescheduled to take place in Seoul on June 20. Reporter Moon Hyewon
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