(Unofficial Translation)

Fellow Koreans and young people,

Today marks Korea’s first Youth Day. According to “the Framework Act on Young Adults,” the third Saturday in September of each year will be observed as the Youth Day, a day our young people have chosen themselves.

We have decided to hold today’s ceremony here in Cheong Wa Dae’s Nokjiwon, a verdant garden that reflects the spirit of young people whose dreams are as high and blue as the autumn sky.

The Chinese characters for “young adult” (靑年) literally mean “blue age.” They represent “pristine innocence” and “righteousness” and also “unlimited imagination” and “the spirit to take on challenges.” Sometimes, even “carelessness” can be understood as a privilege that only the fresh youth can enjoy.

We are in a situation where everyone has difficulties, but for today at least, our young people are the protagonists. I hope that our citizens will spend the day cheering on and encouraging our young people for their dreams and readiness to take on challenges.

It took six years until “the Framework Act on Young Adults” was enacted. It is a promise that the nation will jointly shoulder some of the hardships that young people have had to endure by themselves. In getting this Framework Act passed, the efforts of young people themselves were the most instrumental. They elicited the participation of 10,000 citizens by collecting signatures even on mountain trails. The central and local governments also responded favorably. They legislated general ordinances related to young adults, attempted a variety of relevant policies and helped bear precious fruit.

Now we have established a legal basis for young people to personally participate in policy-making decisions as main stakeholders. The central and local governments can implement policies related to young adults in a systematic manner.

“The Framework Act on Young Adults” is a comprehensive playing field designed in accordance with the demands of young people and jointly constructed by them and the state. It is a playing field open to all young people. It is a playing field where they can build muscles for living and nourish hopes. It is a playing field where they can return even after failing and prepare for a second chance. It is a playing field where they can meet friends and make up for one another’s shortcomings.

The Government will do everything possible for “fair opportunities.” I hope our young people will stretch their imaginations, take on challenges and vigorously pursue their dreams. The Government will provide support with the best facilities and category-specific assistance, so our young people can do whatever training and experimenting that they desire.


Young people,

Today, I would like to have a candid, heart-to-heart discussion with you about impartiality in our society.

The older generation lived in a world long pervaded by unfair privileges and deceit. Those with vested interests passed down their wealth and honor generation after generation. Those involved in collusion between politics and business, which took unfair privileges and deceit for granted. Those with dictatorial power split public opinion along ideological and regional lines, creating structural unfairness.

When the older generation becomes inured to unfairness, it is always the young who raise questions and come forward in a quest for impartiality in society. My Administration has also been trying to stand by young people and is moving forward step by step toward fairness and justice as well as an egalitarian society.

Nonetheless, we still hear the rage of young people who complain that unfairness still persists. We can see the examples of unfairness that seem to repeat themselves endlessly. Some cases of unfairness only reveal themselves in the process of working hard for fairness. This pertains to systemic unfairness, customary preferential treatment and the like. At times, one case of fairness engendered another case of unfairness. Addressing discrimination between permanent and non-permanent workers was regarded by some as closing a door to opportunities. The fact that people may have a different sense of fairness has served as an opportunity for deeper introspection about fairness.

It will take more time before we see fairness take root as a common practice in our society. Trials and errors as well as conflicts are likely. However, we must have conviction to take the path toward fairness. Whenever unfair practices show up, we must work together to clearly address them one by one.
  
If such efforts continue to accumulate, we will be able to see ourselves at some point approaching the goal of achieving fairness with huge strides – as was the case with all other changes and developments. I hope our young people will harbor such conviction and move forward together toward a fair society with a long-term approach.

Fairness is the spirit of the candlelight revolution, and even if we cannot achieve this spirit to the fullest, it is still my Administration’s unwavering goal.

A fair economy is about assuring impartial opportunities for the economic activities of young adults. Only when a fair economy is institutionalized can innovative efforts be properly guaranteed and people get back on their feet again after unsuccessful attempts. The Government has banned the circular ownership structure of Large-sized Enterprises and restricted unfair trade practices with respect to subcontracting, franchise contracts and distribution contracts. Should the three bills related to a fair economy, including the Commercial Act, be enacted, people will be able to sense results on the ground.

In order for fairness to be established anew at eye level for young people – as it should be in a fair economy – it must be felt in all areas, including recruitment, education, military service, society and culture. The actual employment conditions of all state-run institutions will be thoroughly investigated every year to root out any irregularities in hiring. We will also steadily push ahead with educational reforms that will overhaul the system of ranking high schools by their placement records and strengthen the fairness of entering college. We have also enacted and are enforcing “the Workplace Harassment Prevention Law” to prevent unfair treatment and abuse of power against young people in workplaces.

The Government is keenly aware of young people’s strong demands for even further fairness and will surely meet them. We will further strengthen our efforts to investigate military service-related irregularities and tax evasion as well as root out violence in the sports community.

The Government has a firm determination to resolve issues such as stabilizing the real estate market, protecting young people and other genuine home buyers, and curbing speculation. We will expand the housing supply as planned and do everything we can to make housing secure for newlyweds and young adults. The reform of law-enforcement institutions, which is intended to be the foundation of a fair society, will also be completed.

In any society, there are jobs that require people to become skilled workers through repeated labor to gain a sense of achievement, whereas there are other jobs that require intense study and tests to prove your ability. Every job is linked to each other, and a society reaches equilibrium when its members make up for others’ shortcomings. Of course, this balance can only be sustained when each other’s work is respected.

Basically, any type of work has to be treated fairly. The Government will boldly rectify unfairness that exists throughout the lives of the people to ensure that fairness takes root in our society. I hope our young people will take the lead and come together.


Young people,

The burden on young adults’ shoulders has changed over time. When the elderly were young, they had to shoulder the burdens of colonial rule, war and poverty. Some generations have devoted their precious youth to industrialization and democratization. Young people today have considerably more complex and diverse issues that weigh heavily on them, including jobs, housing, education, social participation and the quality of life.

COVID-19 is weighing more heavily on the shoulders of young adults. Jobs are harder to find, and worries over tuition have grown. The young self-employed are agonizing over whether to close their businesses, and an increasing number of newlyweds are concerned about finding a place to live.

The Government included a special support program to help young people find employment in the fourth supplementary budget proposal. In addition to the existing employment support, it will provide a special subsidy to 200,000 young people to help them find a job. We also created a new hope fund for microbusiness owners to assist the young self-employed who have suffered damage from social distancing. We will strengthen financial support and supply public housing for 880,000 newlywed couples and 750,000 households led by young people, including 100,000 units at hope towns for newlyweds and 250,000 public rental houses. Moreover, based on communication with young people, the Government has already announced a second plan to improve their lives in ways like reducing tuition burdens and expanding subsidies for employers who hire an additional young person as a regular employee.

People can take on bold challenges only when they feel secure. The Government will intensively channel its capabilities into creating an environment where the young can get back on their feet even after a failure based upon basic safety nets such as a job, housing and education. 

Let’s take on more challenges with the firm trust that we now protect each other. Our young adults have grown up with digital technology in the world’s best ICT environment. Consequently, this generation can embrace the contact-free-focused post-COVID-19 era in the swiftest and most flexible manner. They are equipped with the strongest weapon that can help them lead a new era.

Young people’s culture of free-flowing communication provides abilities that the older generation lacks. Brilliant ideas and sensitivity are their competitiveness, and empathetic ability is also their best competitive edge.           

COVID-19 created a condition where we cannot predict our future, but this can be a golden opportunity. Now, we are standing on par with more advanced countries at a new starting line – the post-COVID-19 era.

It is an unknown path trodden by no one, but the Republic of Korea’s young adults are the very generation that can walk the path most creatively and courageously. Although it is a difficult situation in many respects, our young people themselves can look back on how much potential they have and deserve to feel confident. I hope you will be confident that you can build one of the world’s leading nations, going even further than the older generation.

The Republic of Korea’s young people have already become “Enfants Terribles,” leading the world in many areas. Like the boy band BTS and pianist Lim Dong-hyek, who are here today, all young adults who take on challenges to achieve their dreams play leading roles.


Fellow Koreans and young people,

A youth policy adjustment committee was launched yesterday. Young adults will account for 70 percent of the committee’s civilian members, and they themselves will deal with their own problems and seek solutions. 

The innovative DNA of our young people can exert greater strength if they believe that society is fair. We will push government policies that meet the expectations of the young and reflect their views, so they can follow their dreams and take on challenges from a foundation of opportunities and fairness. The first Youth Day today is the beginning of that process. Young adults are new main actors in this new era.

Thank you.