December 26, 2024
SEOUL – President Yoon Suk Yeol’s vision to establish a deputy prime minister-level “Population Ministry” dedicated to tackling South Korea’s mounting demographic crisis — marked by a rapidly aging population and plummeting birth rates — has been stymied by the political upheaval surrounding his administration.
Korea’s official transition into a “superaged society,” announced on Monday, arrived earlier than anticipated, with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and Statistics Korea having originally projected the milestone to be reached in 2025.
The urgency for Korea to swiftly establish the Ministry of Population Strategy and Planning — tasked with crafting comprehensive policies on low birth rates, an aging society, immigration and mid- to long-term national development strategies — has intensified since its initial unveiling by Yoon in mid-July.
However, the initiative, which hinges on bipartisan support to amend laws and restructure government organizations, remains far from being realized, despite the government’s initial target of launching the ministry in the first half of next year.
The plan has been derailed by intensifying partisan conflict and deepening discord in the National Assembly, fueled by Yoon’s impeachment trial and a special prosecution investigation into allegations of insurrection.
Passage of a bill requires at least 151 members — over half of the 300 National Assembly members — to be present, along with a majority vote from those in attendance.
In July, the 108-member ruling People Power Party introduced amendments to the Government Organization Act and the Framework Act on Low Birth Rate in an Aging Society, both of which are essential to establishing the prospective Ministry of Population Strategy and Planning. However, the bills remain stalled in the Assembly.
The proposed amendments outline significant changes, including a dual role for the minister of population strategy and planning as the deputy prime minister for social affairs, and the establishment of the ministry as a central administrative body. Additionally, they propose reinstating the position of minister of political affairs, which was abolished during the Kim Dae-jung administration.
The legislative proposals also suggest a comprehensive revision of the Framework Act on Low Birth Rate in an Aging Society to expand its focus on low birth rates and aging to encompass broader demographic shifts.
The current Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy would also be renamed the Population Crisis Response Committee and reorganized under the jurisdiction of the minister of population strategy and planning.
The amendments to the Government Organization Act were referred to the Public Administration and Security Committee’s legislation review subcommittee in September, while the Framework Act amendments were sent to the Health and Welfare Committee’s legislation review subcommittee in November.
Neither has advanced since then.
In late July, Yoon appointed Hanyang University economics professor You Hye-mi as the inaugural senior secretary to the president for population policy to tackle the demographic crisis. However, You tendered her resignation on Dec. 4, the day after Yoon declared martial law.
As of Monday, South Korea has officially transitioned into a “superaged society,” with individuals aged 65 and older now constituting 20 percent of the registered population, according to data from the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.
The United Nations classifies societies based on the percentage of their population aged 65 and above: an “aging society” has 7 percent or more, an “aged society” has 14 percent or more, and a “superaged society” reaches 20 percent or higher.