2025 Lee Jae-myung's Presidential Election Promise Book in-depth Analysis - Welfare and Population

The announcement of candidate Lee Jae-myung's pledges

The candidate Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party emphasizes three key words 'Recovery, Growth, Happiness' in the pledge book titled 'Now for a Real Republic of Korea', announced ahead of the 21st presidential election on June 3, 2025. This pledge book includes 15 major policy tasks and 247 detailed pledges, and presents a vision of becoming an economic powerhouse, a strong nation in diplomacy and security, a cultural powerhouse, a strong democracy, and a welfare powerhouse. Through this, candidate Lee Jae-myung aims to improve the lives of the people and promote national development.

Welfare and Population Policy Promises

Welfare pledges focus on ensuring living stability and provide solutions to the issues of low birth rates and aging population. Candidate Lee Jae-myung promises to provide welfare tailored to all generations, from children to the elderly, aiming for a country where 'everyone, from kids to seniors, lives well.' To achieve this, he demonstrates a commitment to increasing the real income of the people through reducing living costs and strengthening caregiving.

Cost of Living Burden Relief Policy

Candidate Lee Jae-myung has proposed specific policies to alleviate the burden of living expenses. He stated that he would expand the supply of public rental housing and implement measures to prevent fraud in jeonse (long-term rent) to ease the costs of essential goods related to housing, transportation, communication, and education. Additionally, he aims to reduce public transportation costs through the "Youth, Citizens, and Seniors Pass" and prepare solutions to lower communication expenses. These efforts are expected to significantly reduce the housing cost burden for ordinary citizens.

Commitment to Strengthening Education and Care

Improving the education system is one of candidate Lee Jae-myung's main pledges, aiming to strengthen responsible public education to reduce private education expenses. He emphasized lowering reliance on private education through support for basic academic skills and expanding after-school programs, as well as strengthening childcare services for elementary school students to alleviate parents' burdens. He also expressed his commitment to enhancing access to higher education by preparing measures to reduce the tuition burden for college students.

Solutions to the Low Birthrate Problem

As a measure to solve the low birth rate issue, candidate Lee Jae-myung proposed a significant expansion of public rental housing for newlywed couples and an increase in support for couples facing infertility. The goal is to create an environment necessary for forming families by strengthening support during the early stages of marriage and childbirth. Additionally, there are plans to reduce the burden of childcare expenses through innovative support programs such as 'Our Child's First Birthday Savings.'

Policies for Addressing Aging Population

Measures to address the aging society include increasing basic pensions and improving the housing pension system. To ensure stable cash flow, public rental housing suitable for the elderly will be supplied, and policies have been formulated to reduce the burden of medical expenses for seniors. Additionally, various welfare enhancement measures, such as the expansion of dementia care centers and measures to prevent loneliness-related deaths, are included.

Funding and Feasibility

The welfare commitments of candidate Lee Jae-myung require large-scale financial support, and their feasibility depends on securing resources. He stated that major welfare projects will be gradually implemented starting with the supplementary budget in 2025 and the budget in 2026, pledging to fulfill promises through efficient allocation of the necessary budget. However, he emphasized that collaboration between the central and local governments is essential for expanding housing support and care services.

Differentiating Factors from Other Candidates

Candidate Lee Jae-myung seeks to pursue stability in living through universal and active government intervention in the welfare sector, while conservative candidates emphasize fiscal soundness and selective support. In terms of their approach to welfare policies, Lee Jae-myung aims for an inclusive state model, whereas conservative candidates maintain a cautious stance toward excessive expansion of welfare. These philosophical differences clearly distinguish the policy directions of each candidate.