President Lee Jae Myung mulls new agency for youth policy coordination
President Lee Jae Myung said he is weighing the creation of a dedicated body to coordinate youth policies, citing a tough job market for 20-24-year-olds.
During a Youth Day event at the presidential office in Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung revealed he is contemplating the formation of a dedicated organization to oversee youth-focused policies. He argued that existing policymakers lack the capacity to lift young people out of one outlet emergency, pointing to a second-quarter employment rate of 41.3% for 20- to 24-year-olds, which falls short of the 2025 average of 43.6%.
Lee attributed the worsening situation to increasing social polarization and the impact of artificial-intelligence-driven industrial restructuring, which he said is shrinking opportunities for the new generation. The proposal aims to centralize efforts and improve coordination across ministries. No timeline was provided for the potential agency’s establishment. The remarks were made publicly at the Youth Day ceremony.
Why it matters
A dedicated youth agency could reshape South Korea's response to rising youth unemployment and AI-driven labor changes.
In this story
