(EDITORIAL from Korea Times on Aug. 29)

President Yoon Suk Yeol is scheduled to deliver a national briefing, Thursday, to discuss the progress of his four key reform initiatives: national pension, healthcare, education, and labor. He is also expected to address the sharp decline in the country's total fertility rate. The president, who has often faced criticism for not engaging enough with the press and the public, will likely take questions from reporters during the briefing.This will be his second government affairs briefing this year, following his June announcement about potential gas reserves off Yeongil Bay near Pohang, in North Gyeongsang Province. While the president is not widely regarded as the most effective communicator, this time he needs to do more than simply list the progress made on his reform agendas in a self-congratulatory tone.People will be paying close attention, especially to the expected announcement regarding the government's plan to reform the national pension system, which is the third-largest in the world but is pr ojected to be depleted by 2055. Although details have been scarce, the government and the National Assembly have floated the idea of a "pay more and receive more" approach. Remarkably, despite their usual conflicts, the political parties in the previous 21st National Assembly agreed on this reform, which involves raising both the premium and the income replacement rate.Faced with an aging society and low birthrate, Korea's national pension program, established in 1988, is expected to face a shortfall in 2041, with potential depletion 14 years later. Negotiations made in the previous Assembly were stalled by the government's insistence on structural reforms, including changes to both the basic and retirement pension programs. Recently, the government proposed an option whereby younger generations, who will receive pensions in the future, would contribute less, while older generations would pay more. Although ideal in theory, this approach may encounter resistance due to concerns about fairness and equitable burden-sharing.The president and his team of policymakers must be prepared to address potential generational conflicts and convincingly articulate how the government's plan will include precise and effective measures to ensure the sustainability of the pension fund.Another urgent and increasingly dire issue is the ongoing medical reform crisis. More than six months after junior doctors walked out in protest against the government's decision to expand medical school enrollment quotas, the situation has escalated. Resignations by doctors and the refusal of junior doctors to return to work have now spread to the nation's emergency rooms. Additionally, the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union, representing around 30,000 nurses and medical workers across 62 hospitals, has vowed to go on strike Thursday over unmet demands for wage increases.The uncertainty is further compounded by concerns that medical students who also left in protest may not be able to advance or graduate in the academic year 2024. In t his briefing, the president needs to clarify what alternative solutions the government is considering to resolve the current medical standoff. The presidential office should also reconsider the proposal of the the ruling People Power Party's chief, Han Dong-hoon, to delay the expansion of the enrollment quota for the 2026 academic year.The medical situation in the nation is growing serious, and it would be reckless to allow internal political strife -- if that is indeed the case - to hinder the search for a reasonable and flexible solution. Ensuring that citizens don't have to worry about whether there will be doctors available to treat them in the coming days should be the top priority.We hope that in his briefing, the president will address the deep concerns and anxieties that Koreans of all ages feel about soaring housing prices, growing inequality, changing weather patterns, and the frequent, seemingly preventable safety accidents. While the four major reforms are essential for the future and freedom is a priceless national priority, the public needs reassurance on more immediate livelihood issues that affect their daily lives.Source: Yonhap News Agency