Commentary: South Korea's Welfare System Needs More Than Just 'Defenders'

The article "Welfare Blind Spots: Defenders Alone Are Not Enough" published in Hankyoreh presents a critical perspective on South Korea's current approach to social welfare, arguing that it is fundamentally flawed. The author contends that the persistent occurrence of tragic incidents, such as the "three mothers incident" and "basement tenant incident," despite years of efforts to strengthen the poverty alleviation system, indicates a systemic failure. The piece critiques the prevailing strategy of focusing solely on identifying and supporting those already in crisis – the 'defenders' or 'goalkeepers' – while neglecting the 'midfielders' and 'strikers' who represent proactive labor and social policies.

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Welfare blind spots: Defenders alone are not enough

From Hankyoreh's standpoint, which often champions progressive social policies and critiques government shortcomings, this analysis highlights a deep-seated issue. The article points out that while South Korea may have one of the most sophisticated 'discovery' systems for identifying at-risk households using various crisis information, the lack of robust primary and secondary buffers leaves citizens vulnerable. When individuals are pushed out of the stable labor market or fail in self-employment, they often fall into precarious work without social insurance eligibility, immediately facing existential threats.

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The repeated tragedies in the face of repeated tragedies, our response is always the same. First, conduct a full survey, strengthen the system for discovering welfare blind spots, and consider supplementing more personnel to find them.

The commentary further warns that the current situation is likely to worsen due to the accelerating convergence of AI, demographic shifts, and climate change, which will reshape the labor market dramatically. The author expresses concern that the current social policies are ill-equipped to handle these transformations, likening the reliance on poverty policy alone to "pissing on frozen feet" – a temporary, ineffective solution. The piece calls for a comprehensive redesign of the welfare state, encompassing not just poverty alleviation but also education, childcare, mental health services, and labor market policies, all supported by a revised tax system and deliberative strategies for public consensus.

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If the string of tragedies does not stop, shouldn't we realize that the current response method of only blaming the defenders is wrong?

Ultimately, Hankyoreh urges President Lee Jae-myung to take direct and active leadership in redesigning the welfare state. The article criticizes the current government's tendency towards short-term, practical measures that may inadvertently reinforce fragmented systems and risks reducing AI utilization to a mere "Welfare Season 2 for the vulnerable." The piece concludes by emphasizing that addressing welfare blind spots is a collective responsibility, moving beyond blaming local governments or frontline officials, and calls for a visionary approach to ensure the happiness and sustainability of the Korean people.

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In a stable welfare state, citizens are primarily protected through the labor market and employment policies, and social insurance and social services act as a secondary buffer zone for risks such as job loss, caregiving, or mental health.