This study develops trend indicators in key social policy areas to better respond to social, economic, and institutional changes, with the aim of bringing qualitative improvements to periodic analyzes of social policy performance and trends. To this end, we selected the concept of 'social wage'―an indicator designed to comprehensively measure the performance of the welfare state and its impact on people's lives as a whole. We examined both how the social wage can be measured and how it can be applied in practice. In particular, we conducted actual measurements of social wages, drawing on existing debates and definitions. Our trend analysis focused on performance indicators across several domains: healthcare (life expectancy and life expectancy at birth), income and housing (average household income), social services (long-term care payment rates), population (per capita and demographics), and overall social security. We analyzed these indicators by policy area, population subgroup, and life-cycle stage.
Building on prior research, we centered our analysis on key indicators within each major social policy area and assessed the feasibility of using the social wage as a central measure of the welfare state’s performance and impact.
The purpose of this study was to compare and analyze the tobacco tax policies of OECD countries based on the Word Health Organization(WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control(FCTC). We reviewed the components of tobacco price policies by collecting data from the WHO and OECD. Major indicators included tax burden proportion, advalorem and specific taxes, price elasticity, and purchasing power. As new tobacco products have been increasingly developed and emerging, licensing and market monitoring system should be strengthened to prevent illicit trading. The post-tax proceeds from tobacco taxes should be used to reduce health disparities and support tobacco control and smoking cessation services.
The Korean Welfare Panel Study(KoWeps) has played a significant role in academic and policy research, but there is a need to review its achievements and explore future directions. This study suggests improvements in three areas: sample representativeness, appropriateness of survey items, and efficiency of survey operations. While representativeness is generally maintained, issues such as initial instability and potential bias remain. Survey items have adapted to policy changes, but welfare service questions need to be expanded and refined. Lastly, challenges in survey operation sustainability highlight the need for long-term improvements based on domestic and international best practices.
This study aims to provide policy directions and tasks for strengthening essential health care and public health care in Korea. We conducted a theoretical review of the concepts and scopes of essential health care and public health care. We also reviewed the history and current status of essential health care policies as well as public health care policies in Korea and identified key issues through in-depth interviews with experts. Additionally, we conducted a survey to understand the public’s perceptions and opinions on essential health care and public health care. Based on the findings, we suggested policy directions and tasks for strengthening essential health care and public health care.
The analysis is conducted by considering the main characteristics of the national pension, which determines the pension level according to one's labor income during the working period. Considering the life cycle, such as the extension of life expectancy, it is necessary to analyze lifetime income until retirement and expected pension assets until death.
The analysis results showed that although the national pension is a representative old-age income security system, it is not sufficient to prepare for retirement income with the national pension alone. Although the pension level is insufficient, it appears to be a good system in terms of profitability. For individuals, it is necessary to give priority to the national pension system for old-age income. In order to secure a more generous old-age income, it is necessary to consider other old-age systems such as retirement pensions. To ensure fiscal sustainability, we may want to consider parametric reforms that could further ease the current benefit-cost structure. In addition, it is necessary to review further maximize the fund management return rate and alleviate the overall financial burden.
Social security is one of the fields where artificial intelligence (AI) technology is being actively applied. Chapter 2 of this report examines the current trends in AI development and proposes ethical principles for its application. Chapter 3 reviews case studies of AI implementation in institutions both in Korea and abroad. In the Korean context, 36 projects in social security area employing AI technology were identified. Similarly, as examined in Section 3.2, case studies from other countries demonstrate that relatively basic AI technologies, such as chatbots are widely utilized. Chapter 4 analyzes the regulatory trends concerning AI technology in the social security sector, both domestically and internationally. It was found that Korea lacks adequate regulations in this area yet. Internationally, two key regulatory frameworks were analyzed: the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act and Executive Order 14110 issued by the Biden administration in the United States. Both regulations regard the social security domain as a critical target for regulation and present concrete measures for technological advancement and regulatory oversight. Finally, the report identifies ten domains in which AI technologies are applied within the social security sector, and classifies the associated benefits and risks into seven categories each. The report concludes by offering eight policy recommendations to support and regulate AI applications in the field of social security.
The survey results show that indicators related to pregnancy and childbirth have declined overall. The average number of pregnancies, the average number of births resulting from pregnancy, the actual average number of children born, and the value-based desired number of children all declined compared to 2021. Although the percentage of people agreeing with the necessity of marriage at the level of awareness increased significantly, the percentage agreeing with the necessity of children only increased slightly. Although the perception of gender roles has become more balanced than in the past, the percentage of people who believe that men and women are equal in society was significantly lower for women than for men.
The government's policies to address the low birth rate have focused on families with children, as the government expected faster results. Now, it is necessary to view policies addressing the low birth rate from a broader perspective and focus on supporting young people during their transition to adulthood. The government needs to actively develop policies to strengthen the economic foundation of young people so that they can become independent adults in society.
South Korea faces a demographic crisis with low fertility rates and an aging population despite long-standing governmental interventions. In contrast, Sweden has maintained relatively higher fertility rates through comprehensive policies, including family support, labor market strategies, and immigration frameworks. Sweden’s policies evolved from targeted fertility measures in the 1930s to gender equality initiatives and socio-economic strategies that promote employment stability and social integration. South Korea can learn from Sweden's holistic approach by aligning family, labor, immigration, and pension policies while fostering a more inclusive immigration policy and reducing childcare burdens through cultural and institutional reforms.
This study analyzes the complex challenges of economic hardship and time poverty experienced by single-parent households. Despite their active engagement in both work and caregiving, the current support system often limits access and undermine self-sufficiency due to rigid eligibility criteria, abrupt benefit cutoffs, and income reversal effects. Time-related support remains narrowly focused on low-income groups, while structural blind spots within the labor market further constrain access to effective caregiving support. The study offers policy recommendations to enhance both economic and time related support systems, aiming to strengthen the foundation for self-sufficient among simgle-parent families and improve their overall quality of life.
Amid a growing sense of crisis in South Korea, driven by the world’s lowest fertility rate and a rapidly aging population, there is mounting pressure to overhaul the nation’s population policy. Germany’s experience with a low birthrate and aging population, which preceded South Korea’s, along with its efforts to address these challenges in response to a national crisis, offers valuable lessons. In the 1990s, Germany had the lowest fertility rate in Europe, but through significant family policy reforms, including expanding childcare facilities and introducing parental leave, it has emerged as a model for addressing low fertility. Germany’s regional policy, which emphasizes “equal living conditions,” is characterized by the development of policy strategies and specific implementation plans built on social consensus about the policy’s direction. Regarding immigration policy, the government introduced the Immigration Act for Skilled Workers (Fachkr？fteeinwanderungsgesetz) and is working to transform the country into a more attractive destination for immigrants.
