President Lee: "Youth Are Becoming a Vulnerable Group... Support Methods Must Be Broader and Stronger" (Comprehensive)

President Lee Chairs Senior Aides Meeting
Orders Complete Overhaul of Youth Policies Centered on Education, Employment, Assets, Housing, and Marriage
"Heatwave Is a National Climate Disaster"
Directs Full Administrative Focus on Protecting

On August 6, President Lee Jae-myung stated that "Young people are practically becoming a vulnerable class," and instructed the relevant ministers to conduct a complete overhaul of youth policies scattered across different departments, focusing on core areas along the life cycle such as education and employment, income and assets, housing, and marriage. Referring to the record-breaking heatwave sweeping the nation, he diagnosed it as a "national climate disaster" and ordered the mobilization of all available administrative resources to protect vulnerable groups, including residents of jjokbang (tiny room) villages and outdoor workers.

President Lee Jae-myung is speaking at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House on August 6, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

In opening remarks at the Senior Secretary Meeting held at the Blue House that day, President Lee said, "Among the various state affairs, one area that urgently needs to be accelerated is youth policy." He noted, "Although the government is preparing many policies, there are growing criticisms that youth projects by different ministries lack interconnectivity, and the details are not easily understood." He added, "Policies must be thoroughly restructured to match the actual needs and life cycle of young people, and synergy between support policies should be maximized."

President Lee also referred to the results of a recent Focus Group Interview (FGI) conducted by the Blue House targeting young people. He explained, "While there are many youth policies, there is a widespread sentiment that there are few organic policies that address core issues." He emphasized, "The government should actively consider reorganizing policies, centering on key areas of young people's lives such as education and employment, income and assets, housing, and marriage."

He also directed that support methods should be further diversified depending on the nature of each policy. President Lee said, "For areas where universal support is needed, entry barriers should be lowered so more young people may benefit. For areas that require tailored support, the support system should be designed to provide more robust assistance."

He further suggested the establishment of an AI-based guidance system to improve accessibility to these policies. The intention is to address the criticism that only those who know about disparate youth policies spread across different ministries are able to take advantage of them. President Lee stated, "Rather than just waiting for applications, it would be good to proactively inform eligible recipients using an online AI system to encourage as many applications as possible."

Regarding the recent confusion among some applicants due to incorrect guidance on subscription types during the Youth Future Savings account review process, President Lee directed the authorities to respond meticulously. He stressed, "Authorities should ensure that no one suffers unfairly and take every measure to provide accurate information when introducing new systems." He added, "The government must persistently refine all policies from the perspective of young people, who are both the demand side and beneficiaries, rather than that of the suppliers."

Additionally, President Lee called for raising the level and speed of policy response to the heatwave to the highest standards. He said, "A record-breaking heatwave is engulfing the whole country. This is now a national climate disaster. We must respond with unprecedented vigilance, raising both the level and scope of government actions to their maximum."

He particularly stressed the need to strengthen on-site responses to ensure that damage from the heatwave does not disproportionately affect vulnerable groups. President Lee said, "Every disaster always poses a bigger threat to those in more difficult circumstances." He instructed that authorities must focus on inspecting the safety of residents in vulnerable facilities such as gosiwons and jjokbang villages, greenhouses, as well as workers in construction sites, rural areas, and parking lots. To frontline civil servants, he said, "Although it will be difficult, please personally inspect the sites and promptly implement all necessary measures for people in especially challenging conditions."

He also emphasized the need to fundamentally upgrade housing, water supply, power grids, and heatwave response facilities to match the era of routine climate disasters. For traditional markets that suffer sales declines every summer due to insufficient cooling equipment, he ordered that plans for facility expansion be considered for inclusion in next year's budget. President Lee declared, "No one's life or death should depend on where they live or work. Please make every effort to respond to the heat disaster."

Meanwhile, regarding the second round of ministry work reports completed the day before, President Lee reiterated the need for policies to be effectively implemented and tangibly felt by the public. Noting that about 1,400 days remain in the government term, he said, "The work reports are finished, but what really matters is from now on." He stressed, "Rather than grand designs or fancy blueprints, what is important is earnest dedication and agile execution that actually changes people’s lives." He continued, "Even policies launched with the best intentions are meaningless if people don't feel a positive impact or, worse, if they are harmed by them. The government must be flexible and proactive, making bold corrections for any problems, no matter the circumstances, without sanctuary."

For inaccurate reports and manipulated information both domestically and abroad, President Lee instructed that each ministry respond with responsible measures. He said, "For the public to make sound judgments, information must be objective and accurate. Please respond firmly to the dissemination of fake or manipulated information designed to distort or manipulate public opinion."

In a follow-up closed meeting, chief spokesperson Kang Yoo-jung stated that President Lee received a report from the Chief Officer for Public Communication on "Measures to Improve the Social Network Service (SNS) Usage Environment for Youth" and asked detailed questions about age criteria, scope of restrictions, and methods. President Lee further pointed out, "We must consider fairness with other existing social standards such as the minimum voting age and legal marriage age." He also highlighted the need for sufficient discussions among various members of society with differing opinions, including public sentiment.

In addition, regarding the "Current Trends in Universal Support Policy" prepared by the office of the Senior Secretary for Economic Growth, President Lee insisted that while administrative measures to resolve income inequality must be considered, it is also a sensitive and difficult matter that must be handled carefully. He reiterated the importance of AI education capabilities, emphasizing the need for education in AI utilization as well as the development and analysis of government administrative services using AI. After being briefed on "Plans to Redesign Support Systems for Youth," President Lee also stressed that while pursuing universality, efficiency and effectiveness must be thoroughly examined, according to chief deputy spokesperson Kang.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.