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[President Yoon Suk-yeol's Interview with Newsweek]
“North Korea is Not President Yoon's Biggest Challenge”
시사k뉴스 지형덕 기자
2024.11.12
The influential U.S. weekly magazine Newsweek featured an exclusive interview with South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol as the cover story in its November 15 issue. Under the title "President Yoon’s Biggest Challenge is Not North Korea," the article sheds light on the socio-structural challenges facing South Korea, such as the need for comprehensive reforms, domestic opposition, and the difficult international environment including tensions with North Korea.
Key Points from the Interview
While North Korea has recently intensified its provocative propaganda, demolishing partially abandoned inter-Korean roads and railways and issuing hostile rhetoric, President Yoon's focus is different. Despite the risk of confrontation with a nuclear-armed North Korea, Yoon stresses that domestic issues—healthcare burdens, workforce challenges, and educational reform—have become urgent.
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The photo shows President Yoon conducting his Newsweek interview in his presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 16th of last month. (Photo courtesy of Newsweek).
President Yoon emphasized the need for “domestic structural reform” in his interview with Newsweek in Seoul. He noted that previous administrations often postponed necessary but unpopular policies due to electoral concerns, but, with limited time left in his five-year term, he cannot afford to delay. His goal is to establish a solid foundation for the next administration to complete any unfinished reforms.
Healthcare Reform
President Yoon has started healthcare reforms in response to the significant strain on the healthcare sector, caused by factors like aging and urbanization. His proposal to increase medical school enrollment led to strikes by resident doctors who argued it could lead to excessive treatment and overcrowding in more profitable fields like cosmetic surgery. South Korea already has one of the world’s highest rates of cosmetic surgery.
Labor and Pension Reform
Labor and pension reform are equally critical as Korea, once one of the poorest countries post-Korean War, now ranks 14th in the world economy. With a rapidly aging workforce and historically low birth rates, Yoon calls for pension reform to ensure financial stability as the working-age population retires.
Addressing Gender Inequality and Population Decline
President Yoon highlighted the population crisis as central to his reform agenda, aiming to create an environment where marriage and childcare do not hinder women’s career progression. He envisions leveraging AI to enhance professionalism and creativity in the workplace, allowing women to continue developing skills during career breaks without penalizing them for time taken off.
North Korea and International Alliances
Although domestic reform remains Yoon’s primary focus, he has not ignored North Korea's provocations, including recent balloon launches across the DMZ. While Yoon has taken a tougher stance than his predecessors, he reaffirmed reliance on the U.S. alliance for nuclear deterrence, stating that South Korea does not need its own nuclear arsenal despite high domestic support for one.
President Yoon reiterated his commitment to support North Korea with substantial economic and industrial aid if it pursues denuclearization, though he did not propose new overtures beyond his previous messages to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Strengthening Ties with the U.S., Japan, and Southeast Asia
South Korea’s security relies on international alliances, primarily with the U.S., which maintains nearly 30,000 troops in Korea. Yoon expressed confidence in continued U.S. support regardless of American leadership. Additionally, he has worked to strengthen ties with Japan, despite historical sensitivities around Japan’s colonial rule.
Yoon also discussed South Korea's concerns about a rising China and the potential threat to Taiwan, noting South Korea’s increasing solidarity with Southeast Asian countries that share these concerns about regional security and democratic values.
Key Q&A Excerpts
Q: Why spend more time on reforms when global attention is on inter-Korean relations?
President Yoon explained that foreign policy and domestic reform are two sides of the same coin, both critical for South Korea’s future amid the Fourth Industrial Revolution. He asserted that labor, education, healthcare, and pension systems must evolve from the heavy industry era to ensure Korea remains competitive and contributes responsibly to the global community.
Q: How will immigration impact South Korea’s economy?
Yoon mentioned plans to support multicultural families and attract skilled foreign workers, particularly those educated in South Korea. These individuals could contribute significantly to fields in need of labor, with plans to lower barriers to permanent residency and citizenship for qualified workers.
Q: Can gender disparity be reduced?
He emphasized the need to foster a supportive environment where marriage and childcare do not hinder women’s advancement. Yoon aims to address gender disparity and low birth rates simultaneously by changing societal attitudes and creating a more equitable atmosphere through a comprehensive policy package.
Q: Are you confident reforms can be achieved?
“Yes,” Yoon replied firmly. As he approaches the midpoint of his term, he remains committed to building a robust framework that the next administration can complete.
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