President Lee Presides Over Senior Aides Meeting
Government Temporarily Allows Visa-Free Entry for Chinese Group Tourists
"Incidents of Racism and Hate Are Increasing"
"Self-Destructive Acts That Harm National Interest and Image Must Be Eradicated"
Orders Swift Implementation of Special Measures to Crack Down on Hate Acts
On the 29th Senior Citizens’ Day, Urges Quick Action on Prepared Policies Such as Reducing Basic Pension Cuts for Couples
President Lee urged the swift implementation of special measures to eradicate actions that damage the nation’s reputation, noting that despite the potential for significant export benefits, unfounded rumors and hate speech targeting specific countries are being indiscriminately spread. He also requested that policies related to this issue be carefully refined and prepared, pointing out that South Korea currently has the highest elderly poverty and suicide rates among OECD countries.
On October 2, at the presidential office in Yongsan, President Lee presided over a meeting with senior aides and advisors, stating, "It seems that incidents of racism and hate are becoming far too common these days." He was referring to ongoing acts of spreading rumors and hate speech against certain countries and their citizens, particularly in the form of protests, at a time when the temporary visa-free entry for Chinese group tourists is expected to have a positive impact on domestic demand and economic recovery.
President Lee said, "Put yourself in their shoes. How did you feel when you saw anti-Korean protests in Japan?" and added, "Didn’t your image of Japan and the Japanese people worsen?" He continued, "We are facing a national crisis due to export issues, but if 10 million tourists come, we can achieve tremendous export effects. Rather than just being grateful and welcoming, how can we justify hate speech, hostility, verbal abuse, and unruly behavior towards them?"
Accordingly, President Lee called on the relevant ministries to swiftly devise special measures to crack down on and eliminate racist hate acts. He emphasized, "At a time when we are recognized as a global cultural powerhouse, we must not tolerate such uncultured, degrading acts that damage our national dignity. What foreigner would want to travel and shop in a country that disparages them for no reason? We must now completely eradicate these self-destructive behaviors that harm our national interest and image."
In addition, marking the 29th Senior Citizens’ Day, President Lee instructed that policies such as guaranteeing post-retirement income and establishing a care safety net be carefully refined, and that already prepared policies-including reducing the reduction rate for couples receiving the basic pension and applying health insurance to nursing care costs-be processed quickly. He stated, "Today’s rise as a democratic, economic, cultural, and military powerhouse is thanks to the dedication of the older generation, but given the OECD’s worst elderly poverty and suicide rates, the reality is extremely serious."
President Lee said, "The economic and social well-being of our seniors is a responsibility for all of us," and requested, "The government should carefully refine and prepare policies for post-retirement income security, building a care safety net, and expanding customized cultural and leisure programs." He added, "First, please expedite the reduction of the basic pension cut for couples and the application of health insurance to nursing care costs. Also, accelerate the expansion of leisure facilities tailored for seniors." The government plans to gradually reduce the basic pension reduction rate for couples, which currently cuts benefits by 20% when both spouses receive the basic pension.
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