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Lee Jae-myung, presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has tea with Father Song Ki-in—spiritual mentor to former Presidents Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in—at Soso Seowon in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province, on April 22. / Source: Yonhap News

On April 22, Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung announced his flagship “Basic Society” policy platform, promising systemic reforms to ensure state-backed access to essential life services. His proposals include the establishment of a dedicated national agency, universal care programs, and a phased introduction of a 4.5-day workweek. Lee likened the concept to “a thick safety mat” covering all citizens.

In a post on Facebook, Lee stated, “We will build a Basic Society in which all constitutional rights—such as access to housing, healthcare, care services, education, and public services—are fully realized, with shared responsibility between the state and society.” Notably, the proposal was absent from his original top 10 campaign pledges.

Defining the Basic Society as “a community that practically guarantees a basic standard of living for all citizens based on the constitutional rights to pursue happiness and human dignity,” Lee said the need for such a vision has grown urgent. “As we enter an era of low growth, inequality in opportunities and resources is deepening. The widening gap is stalling progress, cooperation has vanished, and only extreme competition remains,” he warned.

Lee criticized current welfare systems for operating on the assumption that “everyone is able to work,” saying they fail to protect those who fall through the cracks. “We need to go beyond a safety net riddled with holes and move toward a Basic Society equipped with a seamless, thick safety mat,” he argued.

Central to this vision is the creation of a “Basic Society Committee” (officially, the Committee for Recovery and Growth toward a Basic Society). Lee explained the committee would be tasked with developing the vision, setting policy goals, and overseeing implementation across key areas such as income security, healthcare, care services, housing, and education. Pilot programs would be conducted and successful policies systematically expanded and supported.

Lee also emphasized public-private cooperation. “We will build a collaborative framework involving private companies, civil society organizations, social enterprises, and cooperatives to reduce fiscal burdens and enhance policy effectiveness,” he said.

He presented a “Care Basic Society” as a critical national strategy to confront Korea’s demographic crisis. “Care must no longer be left to individuals and families alone. It is a task for society as a whole,” he stated. He pledged to move beyond the current “Five Core Care Responsibilities” for infants, children, the elderly, the disabled, and in-patient support, expanding them into a truly collective care system.

Additional pledges included the gradual expansion of child allowance eligibility and the introduction of a “Youth Future Savings” program to support young people in asset-building and entering society.

Finally, Lee committed to implementing a phased 4.5-day workweek and a roadmap to reduce actual working hours, vowing to “build a society where both the right to work and the right to rest are respected.”