보건복지부 영문홈페이지

Korea, China, and Japan Gathered to Seek Solutions to Population Problems

- The 11th Korea-China-Japan Population Policy Forum held in 2023 -

The Ministry of Health and Welfare (Minister Cho, KyooHong) hosted the 「11th Korea-China-Japan Population Policy Forum」from July 19 to 20, where Korea, China, and Japan shared the progress and experience of population policies. This forum has been held annually by the three countries on a rotational basis since 2010, but suspended in 2019 and 2020 on account of COVID-19, etc. In 2021 and 2022, it was held through a video conference. This year the forum brought the three countries together for the first time in five years.

This year’s forum will be attended by population policy experts from the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, as well as the Ministry of Health and Welfare. From China, Chen Guoliang, Deputy Director General of the Aging Health Department of the National Health Commission, and researchers from the China Population Development Research Center (CPDRC), China Population Welfare Foundation(CPWF) attended. From Japan, Asano Atsuyuki, Deputy Director General for Policy Planning of Children and Families Agency and Councillor for the Minister Saisu Tomoyuki of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare attended.

Notably this year, in attendance was Parliamentary Vice-Minister Shogo Azemoto of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, who gave a congratulatory speech. In the afternoon, he held a bilateral meeting with First Vice Minister Lee Ki-il of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. At the meeting, Korea and Japan agreed to expand joint communication and exchange of information on dementia prevention and long-term care systems in the future. Parliamentary Vice Minister Shogo Azemoto also attended the official dinner reception that followed.

Meanwhile, during the proceedings in the first half of the forum, with Dr. Lee So-Young of the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs presiding over the session on “Evaluation of Low Fertility Rate Policy, Effectiveness of Feedback Sys\-tem, and Control Tower”, representatives of Korea, China, and Japan each presented their current status and plans, followed by discussions.

At the proceedings in the second half held on the next day, with Prof. Dong-Min Seo of Baekseok University presiding over the theme of “Social Participation and Health Care Policies for Retirement Support: Status and Challenges”, the three countries each shared their respective policy experiences and gave their opinions.

Choi Jong-gyun, Deputy Minister for Population Policy at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, said at the forum that day, "It is very meaningful that the three countries' population policy exchanges since 2010 have continued despite crises such as COVID-19. The low fertility rate and aging population pose universal problems facing not only Korea and China, but the world as well.” He added, “I hope that the three countries will be able to promote more advanced policies and contribute to addressing the global population problem by sharing and discussing population policy experiences in cooperation proactively.” ///