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Government seeks a new approach to youth concerns
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his administration is considering creating a dedicated organization to coordinate policies affecting young people, arguing that the government’s existing structure is not equipped to address the scale of the challenges they face.
Speaking Sept. 19 at a Youth Day ceremony at the presidential guesthouse in Seoul, Lee said the government may establish a separate system overseen by the prime minister. He added that both the prime minister’s office and the presidential office are working on proposals and seeking policy ideas directly from young people.
Lee described the situation as an emergency, saying established policymakers alone may lack the capacity to resolve it. After the ceremony, he attended a session devoted to hearing from young people.
Jobs, housing and financial security
The policies under consideration include programs to build practical skills, help young adults accumulate assets and address housing needs related to marriage, childbirth and raising children.
Lee pointed to widening inequality, an industrial transformation driven by artificial intelligence and a labor market that places heavy emphasis on education and prior work experience. He said today’s young adults have studied longer, waited longer for jobs and competed intensely, yet often have few assets and deep anxiety about the future.
Living an ordinary life has become difficult without exceptional advantages, Lee said, stressing that the problem should not be blamed on individuals. He also acknowledged that conditions for younger generations are deteriorating faster than the government has been able to improve its policies.
Leadership and access to opportunity
Lee said creating a new office would not be enough without qualified people to carry out its work. He noted that efforts to give younger people policymaking roles can be complicated by hiring processes that prioritize established careers and experience.
The president framed youth policy as central to South Korea’s long-term growth rather than an issue affecting only one age group. His administration pledged to reform systems that unfairly exclude young people from opportunities and to create a more equitable and effective path for them to participate in the economy and society.
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