President Lee Holds Senior Secretaries Meeting on "Senior Citizens' Day," Discusses Policies for the Elderly
Orders Swift Implementation of Measures Including Reduced Basic Pension Cuts for Couples and Health Insurance Coverage for Caregiving Expenses
Calls for "Shift in Perspective" by Expanding Public Sector Jobs for Seniors Through Collection of Overdue Local Taxes
On the occasion of the 29th Senior Citizens' Day, President Lee instructed that policies such as securing income for the elderly and establishing a robust care safety net be meticulously refined. He also called for the prompt implementation of already-prepared measures, such as reducing the reduction rate for basic pension payments to couples and applying health insurance coverage to caregiving expenses. In particular, regarding the expansion of public sector jobs for seniors, he urged a shift in perspective, suggesting that collecting overdue local taxes and unpaid taxes could not only improve tax administration but also create more public jobs.
On October 2, President Lee presided over a meeting with senior secretaries and aides at the presidential office in Yongsan, stating, "It is thanks to the dedication of the senior generation that our country has become a powerhouse in democracy, the economy, culture, and military. However, the reality is extremely serious when considering the OECD's worst rates of elderly poverty and suicide," and made these requests accordingly.
President Lee emphasized, "The economic and social lives of the elderly are a challenge and responsibility for all of us," and added, "The government should carefully refine and prepare policies to guarantee income in old age, build a care safety net, and expand customized cultural and leisure programs." He continued, "First, I hope that measures such as reducing the reduction rate for couples receiving basic pension and applying health insurance to caregiving expenses will be processed quickly. Please also accelerate the expansion of leisure facilities tailored for seniors." The government plans to gradually reduce the system that currently decreases basic pension payments by 20% for each spouse when both are recipients.
In a closed-door meeting, President Lee began with an assessment of policies for the elderly, then examined issues regarding senior income and employment, care and infrastructure, leisure and education, and held in-depth discussions on the culture of dignified death. He also reviewed the current budget status for senior policies.
Especially during discussions on expanding public sector jobs for seniors, President Lee reiterated that collecting overdue local taxes and unpaid taxes could increase tax revenue and, by managing taxes, also expand public jobs. He urged a shift in thinking and instructed officials to conduct a comprehensive survey of job information scattered across local governments to develop a system that allows for unified oversight.
During discussions on alleviating the burden of caregiving expenses, President Lee remarked, "The current system of 24-hour, two-shift caregiving is extremely demanding and leads to an excessive workload, resulting in a vicious cycle of rising caregiving costs." He added, "For example, we need to consider allowing caregivers to choose their working hours, such as four hours a day or three days a week."
Additionally, President Lee showed great interest in the potential for generative artificial intelligence to reduce the risks of misinformation as part of basic digital AI education for seniors. He also asked whether it would be possible to have voice phishing prevention apps pre-installed as a standard feature on smartphones or through telecommunications providers, instructing officials to explore this possibility.
Meanwhile, during a discussion on the culture of "well-dying," presidential spokesperson Kang Yoojeong stated that President Lee inquired in detail about the differences between intubation and forced feeding, and thoroughly examined the current state of the culture surrounding declarations to refuse life-sustaining treatment in Korean society.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
