South Korea’s fight against chronically low birthrates continues, with its latest effort being the launch of a population control tower at the deputy prime minister level.
It’ll be also in charge of strategies related to the aging population.
Our Shin Ha-young reports.
Following high-level meetings with the ruling party, the government announced plans on Monday morning to create a new ministry called the Ministry of Population Strategy Planning, focused on tackling the country’s falling birthrate.
This comes as President Yoon Suk-yeol declared a “national emergency” last month as the number of newborns in the country continues to fall, and vowed to make every effort to handle the issue.
The birthrate dropped to zero-point-7-2 in 2023, the lowest in the world.
The new ministry will be in charge of creating strategies not only to boost the birthrate, but also for overall population issues.
“The ministry has been named the Ministry of Population Strategy Planning to cover all aspects of population policy, including low birthrates, an aging society, workforce and immigration.”
The ministry will be in charge of formulating policies regarding the low birthrate and related mid-to-long-term population strategies, taking over the responsibilities currently held by the health and finance ministries.
Once established, it will have the authority to review budgets and consult with other ministries on related projects.
The ministry will also enhance public awareness through campaigns on population issues, and conduct research and analysis on demographic data.
The head of the ministry will also serve as the country’s deputy prime minister for social affairs, currently served by the education minister.
The government plans to propose a revised government organization act within July to establish the ministry.
It expects the new ministry to begin operations about three months after the revision bill is passed, following necessary procedures such as personnel recruitment, budget allocation, and a parliamentary confirmation hearing for the minister.
The Presidential Committee on Ageing Society and Population Policy will also be transferred to the new ministry under a new name, the “Committee on Population Crisis Response.”
Shin Ha-young, Arirang News.
Source : Arirang TV, https://www.arirang.com/news/view?id=272655
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