President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a meeting with his top aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap
President Lee Jae Myung vowed Friday to build a nation where the state shares the responsibility of parents and looks after their well-being in old age.
Lee posted the message on Facebook to mark Parents' Day, saying he learned after becoming a father of two children that a parent "carries the worlds" of their children on their backs.
"The more we lessen the burdens of life that are placed on parents' shoulders, the more the Republic of Korea can step forward to become a truly advanced nation," he wrote in the message addressed to all parents, referring to Korea by its official name.
"From now on, we will take better care of parents' lives and further expand practical measures to support them," he said. "We will set out to create a 'nation where the people are happy,' which does not lean on parents' one-sided sacrifices but in which the state and community jointly take responsibility (in bringing up children)."
Lee listed his administration's plans to ensure a healthy and active life for senior citizens, including by introducing local community care services, creating 1.15 million jobs for the elderly and revising the pension system.
"Parents who have dedicated themselves their entire lives should be able to enjoy their later lives without worries," he wrote. "Only then can everyone be positive about tomorrow and dream of a better future."
Source: Korea Times News
