The Publicness of “Take-Care Politics” Needs to be Strengthened
#ErradicationOfKindergartenCorruption #ChildBenefits #PublicSocialServiceCorporation #HousePoor #BasicLivingSecurityAct #AbolishingTheDutyOfWorkingPeopleToSupportTheRetired #OptimalSecurityForTheRetired #NationalPensionReform
Creating a State-Responsible Healthy Childcare Environment
In 2018, child benefits became the right of all children. While child benefits were distributed on a selective basis, starting in September 2019, all children under the age of 7 years became eligible for child benefits from the government. This change was the result of the long work of the PSPD. The PSPD also tackled the issue of corruption within the private kindergarten system. The PSPD took urgent action to pass the Three Kindergarten Anti-Corruption Acts and also actively condemned the trick legislation proposed by the Korea Kindergarten Association and the Liberty Korea Party that took the children of Korea hostage. Additionally, only 7.84% of childcare services and 1.2% of long-term elderly care services are publicly owned, which is a significantly low percentage compared to other OECD member states. Therefore, the PSPD proposed the establishment of a Public Social Services Organization, so that the government could offer social services directly and ensure the respect of human dignity in the process. In 2019, 4 municipalities will begin the pilot projects and the PSPD will endlessly work towards expanding this project throughout the whole country.
The Reform for the Guarantee of Every Person’s Pension Funds
The Republic of Korea has a considerably high elderly poverty rate among OECD member states. This is not only a problem for the current elderly but also a major issue for the futures of young professionals who do not have access to public pension funds on top of suffering from employment instability. On this issue, the PSPD held an international symposium on the plan for national pension reform for old-age income security with related organizations, held debates on the bolstering of protection for public pensions, and held press conferences, debates, and continuous activities as well. In addition, the PSPD presented the Pension Reform Bill that hopes to stipulate national pensions into a strong pillar for every person’s old-age income security and encourage the gradual increase of the income replacement rate for the elderly.
Choosing Death Over Being Poor: Urging for the Creation of a Poverty Plan
This year was the fourth anniversary of the Songpa district suicide case of a single mother and her two daughters. Many homeless citizens lost their lives as well, such as the victims of the Jong-no district “Gosiwon” fire and the deaths of the evicted citizens of Ah-hyeon district. The Ministry of Health and Welfare and municipal governments presented plans to help the poor, but they were all short-term. The PSPD actively urged for the acceleration of the still stalling poverty policies of the government. The PSPD also held debates on the poverty problem and the investigation of the individual account books of the poor for the provision of basic living securities for humane living. In preparation for the future decrease in real income of the poor, requests were made for the abolition of the responsibility to support the retired and the revision of the Basic Livelihood Security Act. Upon the visit of the UN Special Rapporteur on Housing Rights to the Republic of Korea, accompanied by the PSPD, the UN Special Rapporteur was deeply concerned by the appalling situation of housing rights in the Republic of Korea and raised attention to the issue both on a domestic and foreign level.
Main Activities
•01/09 [Issue Report] Housing Benefits that Do Not Protect Vulnerable Single- and Double-Member Households
•02/08 [Joint Statement] Parliament Shall Enact Child Allowance Act for ALL Children
•03/21 [Panel Disscussion] Solutions and Revisions to National Pension Plans for Old-Age Income Security
•10/04 [Publication] The Great Challenge for Basic Income, Dignity, and Freedom
•10/16 [Press Conference] Press Conference for the Legal Initiative to Strengthen the Publicness of Social Services
•11/07 [Issue Report] Analysis of the 2019 Budget of the Ministry of Health and Welfare
•11/09 [Urgent Action] Call Now for The Passing of the Three Kindergarten Anti-Corruption Act
•12/21 [Citizens’ Grand Debate] “Gather All Who Are Irate with Kindergarten Corruption!”
•12/31 [Issue Report] Presentation: