KLRI : KOREA LEGISLATION RESEARCH INSTITUTE

       

The 2024 Legislative Forum, co-hosted by the Korea Legislation Research Institute (KLRI), led by President Han Young-soo, and the Ministry of Government Legislation (MOLEG), headed by Minister Lee Wan-kyu, was held on Friday, September 6, at 1:30 PM at the Oakwood Premier Coex Center. The forum, themed “Legal Challenges for Overcoming the Era of Population Decline,” was organized to diagnose the emergency caused by natural population decline and rapid aging due to ultra-low birth rates and to explore potential solutions.

 

The opening ceremony featured an address by MOLEG Minister Lee Wan-kyu, a welcome speech by KLRI President Han Young-soo, congratulatory remarks by Joo Hyung-hwan, Vice Chair of the Presidential Committee on Aging Society and Population Policy, and a keynote lecture by KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung.

  

KLRI President Han Young-soo stated, “Youth have lost hope due to issues like competitive societal structures and metropolitan concentration, which have led to a vicious cycle of low birth rates. Legal and institutional reforms are needed to create a foundation for innovation and growth at the national level, beyond individual policies, so that people can regain hope.”

KAIST President Lee Kwang-hyung began his keynote lecture by presenting population projections for South Korea in an era of low birth rates and aging. He proposed “10 Strategies to Address Low Birth Rates and Aging,” which included improving perceptions of childbirth, balancing work and family life, immigration, labor, education, housing, science and technology, and higher education.

  

The forum comprised two panel sessions. Experts from various fields, including futures studies and social welfare, shared their insights to discuss how societal values and future-oriented perspectives on population issues could be incorporated into the legal framework.

  

In the first session, moderated by An Soo-hyun, Dean of the Law School at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, participants discussed “Legal and Institutional Challenges for Overcoming the Low Birth Rate Crisis.” Panelists included:

Professor Shin Ok-joo from Jeonbuk National University School of Law

Jeong Ik-joong, Director of the National Center for the Rights of the Child

Choi Yoo, Research Fellow at KLRI

Jeong Yong-bok, Legislative Officer at MOLEG’s Administrative Law Division

  

Discussions focused on evaluating the root causes of low birth rates and recent government-wide policy responses from a constitutional perspective.

The second session, moderated by Jeon Kyung-geun, Professor at Ajou University Law School, addressed “Legal and Institutional Challenges for Overcoming the Aging Crisis.” Panelists included:

Professor Kwon Hyuk from Pusan National University Law School

Hwang Nam-hee, Director of the Low Fertility and Aging Policy Planning Center at the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs

Park Kwang-dong, Senior Research Fellow at KLRI

Jung Se-hee, Team Leader at MOLEG’s Future Legislation Innovation Planning Division

   

Panelists explored legal approaches to improving the effectiveness of aging society policies, discussing topics such as improving quality of life, labor, family policies, and other key areas.

   

Date: Friday, September 6, 2024

Venue: Oakwood Premier Coex Center