Lee Man-hee, Health and Welfare Committee chair: “We will pursue institutional reforms, including financial support for nursing homes” [2026 fn Senior Industry Conference]

[Financial News] Lee Man-hee, a People Power Party lawmaker and chair of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, called on the 12th for institutional reforms to promote the senior industry. As one example, he pointed to the difficulty of obtaining financing to build privately run nursing homes.
At the congratulatory address at the “2026 fn Senior Industry Conference,” hosted by Financial News that day at Bankers’ Hall in Jung District, Seoul, Committee Chair Lee Man-hee said, “There are many institutional barriers in the senior industry. For example, companies cannot secure financing for the land acquisition and building construction that require upfront spending to build nursing homes.”
“It costs 50 billion won just to enter the senior industry market by building a nursing home. If companies have to shoulder all the costs, what company could easily enter the market?” he said. He stressed, “An extremely aged society is not a distant prospect, and this is an issue facing society and the country as a whole. The National Assembly and the government must tear down institutional barriers.”
In particular, he called on the government and ruling party to take an active role, addressing Kim Jin-oh, vice chair of the Presidential Committee on Population Strategy under President Lee Jae Myung, who attended the senior industry conference. “As a standing committee chair from the opposition, my ability to bring about policy changes is limited,” Lee said, urging, “Vice Chair Kim, representing the government and ruling party, should work with the National Assembly to bring about change.”
In response, Vice Chair Kim said, “I will take to heart Chair Lee’s call for the government to take the lead in lowering barriers to the senior industry,” adding, “We will encourage innovative investment by the private sector and strengthen the public interest.”
He went on to say, “The senior industry is one on which South Korea’s future depends, so it should be elevated to a national strategic growth industry. We will work closely with the Welfare Committee led by Chair Lee and listen to many of its recommendations.”

[email protected] Kim Yun-ho Reporter