Health ministry to unveil population strategy roadmap at first presidential committee

The health ministry said Tuesday that the Presidential Population Strategy Committee will hold its inaugural meeting on Oct. 14, chaired by President Lee Jae-myung, to unveil the government's population vision roadmap and hear directly from the public.

The event, at the Yeongbingwan guesthouse in the presidential office, follows the enactment of the Framework Act on Population Strategy, which fully revised the Framework Act on Low Birth Rate and Aging Society on Sept. 10 and created the committee under the president.

The roadmap was prepared by the committee together with related government ministries under the slogan "Republic of Korea, flipping the board of population," according to the health ministry. About 120 people are expected to attend, including government and civilian members of the committee, participants in a public panel on population policy, and representatives from business, media, academia and civic groups. The meeting is scheduled to run for 80 minutes from 2 p.m.

At the center of the event is a public participation debate organized around two themes: a society where anyone can choose the life they want wherever they live, covering young people, childbirth, child care and the regions, and a sustainable society where everyone is respected and lives together, covering older people, age tech and migrants.

The 100-member public panel was formed with representation by age, gender and region. Starting this month, the panel will take part in discussions and other activities aimed at feeding public views into policy.

The whole event will be broadcast live on KTV and its YouTube channel, and anyone can join through real-time comments.

The committee is a presidential control tower that deliberates and coordinates major population policy matters, with a legal basis in Article 36 of the Framework Act on Population Strategy. Its duties include analyzing and forecasting mid- and long-term demographic change, setting policy goals and directions, and drawing up five-year basic plans, annual implementation plans, investment priorities and policy evaluations.