Youth Meeting… Kwon Seong-dong: “Democrats Burden Youth with Pensions for the Sake of Established Interests of Korean Confederation of Trade Unions”
Kwon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, spoke at a youth policy meeting held at Sarangjae of the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, on the 12th. The meeting was titled “Relieving Young People’s Burdens, the People Power Party Will Help.”
In a bid to ease the tuition burden on college students, the People Power Party announced plans to increase the scholarship ratio relative to total tuition fees and to expand the criteria for multi-child tuition support. Kwon stated that the scholarship ratio will be raised from the current 60% to 70%, and the state scholarship that is currently provided from the third child will be incrementally expanded to second children.
Kwon also addressed issues faced by youth involved in platform work such as Coupang deliveries, noting that if their annual income exceeds 5 million won, they lose their status as dependents in health insurance. He emphasized the need to find reasonable solutions together with the attendees.
He expressed concern that the reluctance of older generations to relinquish entrenched interests and outdated structures has exacerbated difficulties for today’s youth. While he clarified that the People Power Party does not claim to be entirely right or the Democratic Party entirely wrong, he criticized the Democratic Party for monopolizing legislative powers and shielding core supporters like the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, thereby shifting burdens like pension reform onto the youth.
Kim Sang-hoon, the party’s policy chief, acknowledged potential funding issues but described the changes as essential to providing a broader spectrum of state scholarships to university students.
Kwon concluded with a plea for policies that inspire dreams and hope among future generations, rather than prioritizing established interests.