"Fiscal Stability vs. Old-Age Security" National Pension Reform: What are citizens concerned about?

Regarding the 'pension reform' to ensure the sustainability of the National Pension, two values—fiscal stability and old-age income security—are clashing. According to a video recently released by National Pension TV, the 18th National Pension University Student Ambassador team captured the voices of modern citizens regarding National Pension reform through a role-play set in the Joseon Period and citizen interviews.

The dilemma between fiscal soundness and old-age security

The role-play in the video reveals the core issues of pension reform. The video presents a conflict between the fiscal-centered logic, which argues that current people must pay more to continue the people's pension, and the old-age security-centered logic, which argues that a more reliable pension must be guaranteed to people worried about their old age. The position that the state's coffers do not fill themselves and thus finances must be strengthened faces the position that if the state only collects more from the people, who would welcome such a system?

This structure of conflict also appeared in actual citizen interviews. A citizen who is not paying into the National Pension expressed anxiety, worrying about whether they will actually be able to receive the pension properly in the future. A citizen who is currently paying into the pension also simultaneously expressed the hope that the National Pension will not be depleted and can continue to be paid, alongside the concern that they might not be able to receive the pension later.

"The future generation must be able to feel secure" The direction of reform citizens desire

Citizens presented specific opinions on the direction the current pension reform plan should take. One citizen mentioned that while it is a good amendment for the youth due to the existence of childbirth-related benefits, they suggested that additional efforts from the government or the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea are needed so that codified regulations can be supported by actual policies.

Furthermore, there were many voices stating that the core of the reform lies in 'trust.' One citizen expressed support for reform that considers intergenerational equity, stating that it is right for the current generation to pay a little more so that the future generation can go more comfortably and safely later.

Ultimately, National Pension reform appears that the key will be 'building trust'—ensuring the nation's fiscal soundness while simultaneously giving the belief that citizens can properly receive back as much as they have paid. The video concludes by suggesting that the true path of reform is to protect the pension for a long time, reliably guarantee old age, and allow the future generation to feel secure.