KIHASA Holds the 40th Population Forum on Decentralization and the Basic Society

• ■In the morning session, Lee Han-joo, Chairperson of the National Research Council for Economics, Humanities and Social Sciences (NRC), delivered a keynote speech titled “Korea’s Grand Transformation and the Basic Society.” This was followed by keynote presentations from Ian Gough and Anna Coote on “Universal Basic Services.”
  
  

• ■The afternoon program featured 18 papers and expert discussions across nine thematic sessions. Topics covered included democracy, income security, demographic change, the social solidarity economy, economic paradigm shifts, basic healthcare, basic housing, AI, and care.
  
  

• ■Shin Youngseok, President of KIHASA, said, “I have high expectations for this forum, which will provide a valuable opportunity to discuss the philosophical principles and practical tasks involved in the Basic Society―a key national policy initiative―and inform future policy directions.”
  
  

• ■In his congratulatory remarks, NRC Chairperson Lee Han-joo stated, “To overcome the polycrisis we face―declining potential growth, demographic challenges, ever-widening inequality, increasing uncertainty in global trade, the AI revolution, and climate change―we need an entirely new approach. The Basic Society, which is the core governing philosophy of the Lee Jae Myung administration, must start from and evolve together with local communities.”

On Thursday, November 20, KIHASA, together with the Basic Society Research Association (Co-Chairs Eun Min-su and Jeong Won-oh), held ‘the 40th Population Forum: Decentralization and the Basic Society’ at the Ulsan Exhibition and Convention Center from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event was sponsored by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

Since 2014, the Population Forum has served as a platform through which KIHASA has helped raise public awareness of major population issues―such as low fertility, population aging, and demographic changes―and presented policy proposals in response. The 40th Forum, which took place under the theme “Decentralization and the Basic Society,” aimed to discuss the philosophical principles and policy direction of the Basic Society and Basic Services. This was in response to intensifying societal challenges, including demographic changes and regional decline driven by low fertility and population aging. The event also sought to explore strategies for the government’s future Basic Society initiative in a comprehensive manner.

The event opened with an address by KIHASA President Shin Youngseok, followed by welcoming remarks from Eun Min-su and Jeong Won-oh, co-chairs of the Basic Society Research Association. Congratulatory remarks were then delivered by Park Jumin, Representative and Chair of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee; Yoon Ho-jung, Minister of the Interior and Safety; Kim Kyung-soo, Chair of the Presidential Committee for the Regional Era; Lee Han-joo, Chairperson of the NRC; and Kim Kwan-young, Governor of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province.

Lee Han-joo, Chairperson of the NRC, delivered a keynote address titled “Korea’s Grand Transformation and the Basic Society.” This was followed by keynote presentations on “Universal Basic Services” by Ian Gough, Professor at the University of Bath, and Anna Coote of the New Economics Foundation.

In the general session, Eun Min-su, Professor at Korea University’s Sejong Campus, presented “Decentralization in the Era of Low Fertility and the Basic Society as a New Social Contract,” and Hong Ki-bin, Director of the Institute for Global Political Economy, discussed “Decentralization and the Basic Society as Engines of Growth.”

In the afternoon, nine thematic sessions were held, each featuring two presentations and a wrap-up discussion.

Session 1, chaired by Professor Eun Min-su, addressed “Values and Alternatives for Decentralized Democracy to Realize the Basic Society.” Presentations included “Building a Decentralized Nation through the Basic Society” by So Soon-chang, Professor at Konkuk University and “Democracy, Autonomy and Decentralization, and the Basic Society” by Lee Jin, Professor at Konyang University. The discussion panel featured Kwon Hyuk-yong, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Korea University; Oh Sang-taek, Senior Research Fellow at the Center for Good Democracy at Sungkyunkwan University; and Lee Sang-hyup, Professor in the School of Liberal Studies at Inje University.

Session 2, chaired by Choi Young, Professor at Chung-Ang University, examined “Income Security and Reform of Public Assistance for Overcoming Regional and Demographic Crises.” Presentations were given by Jeong Won-oh, Professor at Sungkonghoe University, and Kim Tae-wan, Senior Research Fellow at KIHASA. The panelists included Yoo Dong-chul, Professor of Social Welfare at Dong-Eui University; Jo Sung-eun, Research Fellow at KIHASA; and Park Kyung-chul, Research Fellow at the Chungnam Institute.

Session 3, chaired by Lee So-young, Senior Research Fellow at KIHASA, focused on “Demographic Changes and Recent Trends.” Presentations were given by Lee Ji-hye, Associate Research Fellow at KIHASA, and Lee Chul-hee, Professor at Seoul National University. Discussants included Yoo Sam-hyun, Professor of Sociology at Hanyang University; Kim Eunjeong, Associate Research Fellow at KIHASA; and Lee Ji-hye, Associate Research Fellow at KIHASA.

Session 4, chaired by Jeong Moo-kwon, Emeritus Professor at Yonsei University, addressed “The Social Solidarity Economy for Community Building and Local Self-Governance.” Presentations were delivered by Han Sang-il, Professor at Yonsei University, and Kang Ho-jin, CEO of the Jeju Social Economy Network. The discussion featured Park Jin-young, Director of the Daegu Social Economy Support Center; Kim Jong-bin, Deputy CEO of ‘Deohahm’ Esther; and Lee Kyung-mi, Research Professor of Global Public Administration at Yonsei University.

Session 5, chaired by Kang Kyung-hoon, Professor of Economics at Dongguk University, explored the theme “The Basic Society and the Real Economy in an Aging Era.” Presentations included “Government Policy Tasks for Genuine Growth in a Period of Grand Transformation” by Han Jae-joon, Professor of Business Administration at Inha University, and “The Basic Society and the Transformation of the Economic Paradigm” by Kim Junghoon, Senior Research Fellow at the Gyeonggi Research Institute. Discussants included Lee Dong-jin, Adviser to the Minister of Economy and Finance; Joo Dong-heon, Professor of Economics at Hanyang University; and Hong Ki-bin, Director of the Global Political Economy Institute.

Session 6, chaired by Jeong Baek-geun, Professor at Gyeongsang National University School of Medicine, discussed “Basic Healthcare Policy in an Aging and Decentralized Era.” Presentations included ‘The Basic Society and Health Care: Basic Health Care Policies for Realizing the Basic Society’ by Yoon Tae-ho, Professor at Pusan National University School of Medicine, and ‘Localization and Decentralization for Ensuring Essential Health Care’ by Kim Myung-hee, Director of the Policy and Statistics Support Center at the National Medical Center. Panelists included Lee Won-young, Professor at Chung-Ang University College of Medicine; Jeong Hye-ju, Professor at Korea University College of Health Sciences; and Jang Sook-rang, Professor at Chung-Ang University Red Cross College of Nursing.

Session 7, chaired by KIHASA Senior Research Fellow Kang Hye-gyu, addressed “Local Government Housing Policies for Overcoming the Population Crisis and Realizing a Basic Society.” Presentations included ‘Conditions and Challenges of Local Government Housing Policies in the Era of Integrated Care’ by Seo Jong-kyun, Researcher at ‘SSidaat’ Housing Policy, and ‘The Role of Local Governments in Ensuring Safe Housing’ by Lim Kyung-ji, Policy Specialist at Seongdong-gu District Office. Discussants included Park Sun-hee, Research Fellow at Kyungnam Research Institute; Lim Se-hee, Professor of Social Welfare at Seoul Cyber University; and Lim Deok-young, Research Fellow at KIHASA.

Session 8, chaired by Lee Mi-ji, Professor at Daegu National University of Education, focused on “AI, the Environment, and the Basic Society.” Presentations included ‘Questions the Basic Society Must Ask in the Age of AI’ by Choi Jeong-muk, Director of the Local Autonomy Data Institue, and ‘Ecological Basic Society: Focusing on Ecological Foundations’ by Yoon Seong-bok, Researcher at Sogang University. Panelists included Kim Jeong-nam, Chair Professor at KAIST; Kim Jong-ik, Chair of ‘Sangsaengnamoo’ Foundation; and Lee Sang-jun, Senior Research Fellow at the Korea Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training.

Session 9, chaired by Min So-young, Professor of Social Welfare at Kyonggi University, addressed “Care Policy and the Role of Local Communities in the Basic Society’s Response to Demographic Change.” Presentations included ‘Restructuring After-School Care Services for Elementary Students and the Role of Local Governments’ by Choi Young, Professor of Social Welfare at Chung-Ang University, and ‘The Basic Society and Integrated Care for People with Disabilities: Reality and Ideals’ by Hwang Joo-hee, Research Fellow at KIHASA. The discussion panel featured Ryu Jeong-hee, Research Fellow at KIHASA; Kim Bo-young, Professor in the Department of Human Services at Yeongnam University; and Lee Jung-joo, Director of the Gyeonggi-do Center for Comprehensive Support for Persons with Disabilities.

In his opening address, KIHASA President Shin Youngseok said that the current Forum provides a venue to look deeply into the phenomenon of low fertility and population aging, and to discuss the preparations needed for Korea’s sustainable growth ahead of the launch of the Basic Society Committee in 2026. He expressed his expectation that the Forum would serve as a valuable platform for discussing philosophical principles, practical tasks, and policy proposals concerning the Basic Society, a key national policy initiative.”

In their welcoming remarks, Co-chairs Eun Min-su and Jeong Won-oh stated that only a broad-based shift toward the Basic Society could ensure a sustainable future for Korea. They also expressed their anticipation for meaningful discussions at the Forum, noting that it was being held during the same week as the Regional Era Expo commemorating the 30th anniversary of local autonomy.

Minister Yoon Ho-jung said that the Ministry of the Interior and Safety is laying the institutional groundwork for the Basic Society step by step. This includes preparing for the launch of the Basic Society Committee and the enactment of the Basic Society Framework Act. He added that a new Basic Society Policy Division had been created through a recent organizational restructure and noted that the ministry would further concretize Basic Society policies through discussions at the forthcoming Basic Society Committee, in cooperation with central and local governments, academia, and practitioners.

Chairperson Lee Han-joo emphasized that the Basic Society must start from local communities and evolve with them. He also expressed his commitment to advancing research and policy development in order to realize the Basic Society, building upon the discussions held at the Forum on democracy, demographic challenges, the social solidarity economy, Basic Society policy, the environment, and AI.

Governor Kim Kwan-young of Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province stated that the Lee Jae Myung administration’s commitment to ensuring the constitutional right of all citizens to live with dignity is embodied in the Basic Society agenda. Stressing that discussions on the Basic Society must proceed in tandem with the pursuit of decentralization, he expressed hope that the Forum would serve as a meaningful opportunity to ensure both pillars advance in balance.