**”Pension Reform, White-Collar Exemption, Small Business Tax Issues Accumulated”**
Kim Sang-mook, acting president and deputy prime minister and minister of strategy and finance, announced, “The working group for discussing tariff measures between Korea and the U.S. and strengthening maritime cooperation has been agreed upon,” and urged for bipartisan cooperation in this serious national period marked by trade wars originating from the United States.
During a cabinet meeting on the 4th, Acting President Choi mentioned video meetings with Scott Besent, the U.S. Treasury Secretary, and meetings between Howard Rutrick, U.S. Commerce Secretary, and An Deok-geun, South Korea’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy.
He stated, “The place to prepare a breakthrough for public welfare and the future of Korea in this crisis, and to set a cornerstone for national integration, is the ‘National Assembly-Government Policy Council’, where both political parties and the government must work together.” He noted, “Fortunately, the National Assembly passed the Energy Three Laws, K-Chips Act last week, but there are significant national issues piling up such as pension reform to prevent the depletion of the national pension, permitting ‘White-Collar Exemption’ for high-income semiconductor researchers, and tax support for small businesses.”
Amid all kindergartens, elementary, middle, and high schools nationwide beginning the new school year, Acting President Choi mentioned new changes in education, such as the expansion of Neulbom Schools to second graders in elementary schools, the introduction of AI digital textbooks, and the full implementation of the high school credit system for first-year high school students.
He emphasized the critical role of the government in revitalizing public education: “I will visit educational sites soon to thoroughly check the status of education reform to ease the concerns of parents.”
Furthermore, Acting President Choi expressed concern that medical students had left school for over a year, urging them to return as they are vital future professionals who will be responsible for citizens’ lives. The government, he assured, will uphold principles and values while working thoroughly with the medical and medical education sectors to normalize medical education and improve quality.
He also called for strengthened safety management during the thawing period in spring and for regional festivals.