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Video Description

Type: KIHASA Policy Featurette

Topic: What Efforts Do the Central and Local Governments Make for New Middle-Aged?

Guest Speakers: Choi Dong-seok, Announcer; Lee Yunkyung, Senior Research Fellow, KIHASA; Hwang Nam-hee, Head, Center for Policy Planning on Low Fertility and Population Aging, KIHASA; Cho Sungeun, Research Fellow, KIHASA

Transcript

Choi:

You've touched on various aspects of preparing for retirement ？ not just financial readiness, but also other dimensions like interpersonal relationships. It seems like this isn’t something individuals can handle on their own. So, what role do you think the state can play in addressing these challenges? Let’s discuss that, shall we?

Lee:

In a city like Seoul, which is often at the forefront of implementing new policies, they’ve set up initiatives like the 50 Plus Foundation. These centers serve as community hubs, offering programs that include educational opportunities and spaces where participants can teach others. They’re actively doing a lot of these kinds of activities.

Hwang:

What’s really unfortunate is that for new middle-aged people or those in need of care-related services, they might wonder, ‘Do I have to move to Seoul to access these programs?’ That’s why I believe these policies should be implemented at the national level, rather than at the local government level.

Cho:

The issue is that the Ministry of Employment and Labor’s programs are heavily focused on employment and vocational training. But that’s not always what people in their 50s are looking for. For example, someone might say, ‘When I was younger, I dreamed of working in film, but I couldn’t pursue it. Now that my kids are grown and I’m retired, I should give it a try.’ There is that kind of need.