President Lee Jaemyung Chairs First Cabinet Meeting at Government Complex Sejong Since Inauguration
"Youth Employment Market Outlook Not Bright in Second Half... Multi-Layered Support Measures to Be Implemented"
"Government and Companies Must Ov
On September 16, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "The outlook for the youth employment market in the second half of the year is not bright. The government will implement multi-layered support measures to help young people acquire the skills needed in the field and will work to lower barriers to entry into the labor market." He also urged companies to join efforts to address youth employment issues.
During his opening remarks at the Cabinet meeting held at the Government Complex Sejong-the first such meeting he has presided over since taking office-President Lee said, "This week is Youth Week. According to the August employment trends, the overall employment rate is at an all-time high, but the number of employed young people has been declining for 16 consecutive months." He added, "With regard to future growth engines, please pursue youth job expansion policies with particular care."
He also called for the participation of companies. President Lee said, "There is a saying that it takes a village to raise a child," and emphasized, "To solve the youth employment issue, not only the government but also the efforts of companies are needed. The government is doing its utmost to support companies so they can carry out their business activities smoothly. I ask that companies, which are overcoming trade challenges with the Team Korea spirit, also join forces to overcome the youth employment crisis."
President Lee further added, "Creating new jobs for young people is absolutely essential," and earnestly appealed, "Let us open a new path for economic growth where young people, companies, and the nation all win together."
President Lee also stressed that achieving balanced national development is essential for sustainable growth. He said, "In the past, we adopted unbalanced growth by concentrating limited resources, which led to the dominance of the Seoul metropolitan area. Now, the concentration in the metropolitan area has reached its limits, and local regions are facing the risk of extinction, making it difficult for Korea to achieve sustainable growth. I believe that balanced national development is no longer a choice but a destiny."
He also pledged to accelerate the 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones' strategy. This strategy refers to a national balanced development plan that aims to break the dominance of the Seoul metropolitan area by fostering five regional growth hubs-Seoul metropolitan area, Chungcheong region, Southeast region, Daegyeong region, and Honam region-and three special self-governing provinces: Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju.
President Lee explained, "That is why the government uses the term 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones.' We aim to foster five development centers including regions outside the metropolitan area, as well as three special self-governing provinces-Gangwon, Jeonbuk, and Jeju. We must accelerate the implementation of this plan." He particularly emphasized, "Completing the 'Administrative Capital Sejong' is the cornerstone of balanced development," and reiterated, "We will ensure the construction of the Sejong Presidential Office and the Sejong National Assembly building proceeds without delay."
Before the deliberation and resolution of the agenda items, President Lee presided over a discussion on the 'National Balanced Growth Strategy.' Kim Kyungsoo, Chairperson of the Presidential Committee for Local Era, gave a presentation on the design of the 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones' national balanced growth strategy. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Koo Yooncheol reported on a strategy to support national balanced growth based on an AI-driven ultra-innovative economy. Choi Gyojin, who attended the Cabinet meeting for the first time as Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, presented measures to foster local universities for balanced national growth. Kim Jungkwan, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, announced plans to foster growth engines for the 'Five Regions, Three Special Zones.' The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries also reported their prepared measures to President Lee.
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