Lee Jae-myung: Young people are the truly vulnerable generation... We need to expand the economy to create more opportunities

[Financial News] President Lee Jae-myung said on the 28th that the young generation is the "truly vulnerable generation" and pledged to focus national resources on growth that expands the economy's "pie" in order to create more opportunities for young people.
At the 'Turning Young People's Potential into Greater Opportunities, Youth Budget Unboxing 2027' event held that day at Yeomingwan in Cheong Wa Dae, Lee said, "In the past, young people were the most dynamic, hopeful and energetic group. But now they have become a truly vulnerable generation, with the narrowest opportunities, the greatest hardship and pain, and yet one that is not well understood."
He pointed to a lack of opportunities and excessive competition as the main reasons for the difficulties young people face. Lee said, "There are no opportunities. Competition is so intense because opportunities are so limited," adding that "competition itself has become painful."
He went on to say, "It is not easy even to find a job, buy a home, or plan one's life," and stressed that "before telling young people to work harder, it is the state's responsibility to create a society where they can obtain opportunities in proportion to their efforts."
As a solution, he proposed expanding opportunities through growth. Lee said, "The most important thing our government must do at this stage is to expand the pie," adding that "that is why we are focusing on growth." He continued, "Only when we expand this pie and increase these opportunities can we more effectively consider how to distribute them fairly and rationally."
He also called for a review of how the government designs youth policies. Lee said, "We need to look back and ask whether government policies have truly started from young people's needs, or whether they have been designed for the convenience of the provider, our government, rather than the needs of the user, and we should boldly fix what needs to be fixed."
He added, "I hope you will create best-selling policies that young people will seek out first and choose willingly," urging the government to actively reflect young people's voices in policy.
[email protected] Sung Seok-woo Reporter