President Lee says youth face most uncertain future, vows government action

President Lee Jae Myung said Saturday he is considering establishing a dedicated organization to oversee youth policy.

Speaking at a Youth Day ceremony at the Cheong Wa Dae reception hall, Lee said the situation facing young people amounts to an emergency that existing policymakers are ill-equipped to handle. "I am now thinking about whether we should create a separate, dedicated organization to take overall charge of youth policy," he said.

Lee described today's young Koreans as the most accomplished and hardworking generation he knows, but said their efforts have gone unrewarded. "Yet, most unfairly, the results have been turned upside down," he said.

"The generation that studied the longest waits the longest to find work. The generation that prepared the most has the least. And despite competing the most fiercely, they face the most uncertain future," he said.

Lee said the hardships young people face are not of their own making. "They say that unless you are exceptional, even living an ordinary life has become a struggle. This is by no means the fault of the individual," he said, adding that widening inequality and the restructuring of industries driven by AI are narrowing opportunities for the new generation.

He also cited the day-to-day difficulties young people face, saying some cannot afford to rent a suit for a job interview and that some go without meals.

After listing the challenges young people face in building assets, getting married and finding housing, Lee said the government is working on many of these issues.

"The youth problem is not simply a matter for a particular group or segment of society — it is a fundamental question of whether South Korea can remain a country that continues to grow and develop," he said.

Lee acknowledged that solutions are not straightforward. "It is not clear what specific measures are needed. It is not easy," he said. "Identifying effective and necessary policies is beyond the capacity of existing organizations, personnel and capabilities."

He added that finding the right people to carry out policy is as important as restructuring organizations. "The policymakers with the greatest authority are people far removed from the scene," he said, noting that he is trying to give younger people a chance. "When you weigh up career records and experience, it ultimately becomes hard to find the right people. This is another difficult challenge I am grappling with," he said.

Lee closed by pledging that the government would do its best. "I was once young myself, and I have family members who are young. I am not so different from you," he said. "Let us work together so that young people can hold on to hope and find the place and share they deserve."