A policy body will be created to push "basic society," a pledge from President Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety said on the 20th that the Cabinet approved a draft presidential decree titled "Regulation on the establishment and operation of the Basic Society Committee."
The draft approved that day sets out the composition and functions of the Basic Society Committee, the implementation framework for realizing a basic society. It specifies the national task of "strengthening the safety net for a basic life" to achieve the national goal of "a nation with a solid foundation."
Before this, the government preannounced the legislation on Dec. 15, and finalized the draft through the approval that day.
Basic society was also a pledge from President Lee Jae-myung's presidential campaign. In May last year, then the Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate, he said on his social media (SNS), "To overcome the structural crises that ultra-scientific and technological development may bring, we must take a completely different approach from existing systems. We must move beyond a social safety net with holes to a thick safety mat with no gaps—a 'basic society,'" adding, "We will establish the 'Committee for Recovery and Growth for Basic Society' (Basic Society Committee) to set policy goals and key tasks for a basic society and to oversee, coordinate, and evaluate their implementation."
Under the key points finalized that day, the committee will set a national vision and basic direction, improve laws and systems, and carry out publicity and communication to enhance understanding of a basic society, in order to realize a basic society in which the state and society jointly take responsibility for people's basic lives.
In addition, to make clear that guaranteeing people's basic lives—such as in the contexts of low birthrate and aging, and artificial intelligence—is a core national agenda, the president will personally serve as chairperson. The heads of 16 central administrative agencies and the representatives of the four major associations of local governments will join as ex officio Commissioners.
A working-level committee will also be established to review and coordinate the committee's agenda items in advance. The Minister of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) will serve as chairperson, and agenda items will be solicited not only from central administrative agencies but also from local governments, academia, and the general public.
In addition, through interministerial consultations and the preannouncement of legislation, the Minister of the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Minister of the Ministry of Planning and Budget were added as ex officio Commissioners. As a result, the number of Commissioners increased from 40 to 43.
The Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS) plans to hold an interministerial meeting on the 21st, chaired by Vice Minister Kim Min-jae, so the Basic Society Committee can launch without a hitch. Relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, will take part to discuss basic society-related policies being pursued by each ministry and to flesh out policy directions.
Minister Yoon Ho-jung said, "The establishment of the Basic Society Committee is meaningful in that it puts in place a framework to implement basic society as real policy rather than a simple declaration," adding, "Relevant ministries and local governments will work closely together to craft basic society policies that people can feel in their everyday lives."