KIHASA and Ministry of Health and Welfare Held “Forum on Public Perceptions of Social Policy”

• ■This forum brought together officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, academics, and experts in various fields of social policy to discuss directions for social policy based on the results of the 2024 National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy.
  
  

• ■The event included an opening speech by Seol Yeseung, Director of the Welfare Policy Division at the Ministry of Health and Welfare, followed by presentations and discussions on three main topics.
  
  

• ■Acting President Kang Hye-kyu said, “The National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy provides valuable data that reveals diverse perceptions of welfare from the public’s perspective. We hope that this forum will promote meaningful discussions for concrete and beneficial policy formulation in social policy development.”

KIHASA, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Welfare, held the Forum on Public Perceptions of Social Policy on Thursday, December 19, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

This forum served as a platform where officials from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, academics, and experts from various social policy fields gathered to discuss the future direction of social policies based on the findings of the National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy.

The survey, conducted between October and November 2024 on approximately 3,000 households nationwide, examined: overall perceptions and attitudes towards welfare; perceptions and attitudes towards specific directions of welfare reform; perceptions and attitudes towards welfare issues; general political and social perceptions; and perceptions of personal life and social integration.

The event featured three presentations and a panel discussion:

Presentations:
- "The Significance and Utilization of the National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy" by Professor Kim Young-mi of Dongseo University.
- "Key Findings from the 2024 National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy" by Associate Research Fellow Cheong Sejeong of KIHASA.
- "Time-Series Analysis of the National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy" by Professor Cho Young-min of Ewha Womans University.

Panel discussion:
- Discussants: Professor Park Young-ran of Kangnam University; Professor Ryu Yeon-gyu of Seoul Theological University; Research Fellow Byun Geum-seon of Seoul Institute; Senior Research Fellow Park Se-kyung, Research Fellow Kim Ki-tae, and Associate Research Fellow Shin Young-kyu (all from KIHASA).
- Moderator: Associate Research Fellow Lee Da-mi of KIHASA.

The first presentation discussed the importance of establishing reliable survey data on public perceptions and demands regarding social policies and ways to enhance their practical use. The second presentation explored key findings from the 2024 survey, analyzing differences between key demographic groups and overall results. Finally, the third presentation compared the results of the 2022, 2023, and 2024 surveys to discuss changes in public welfare perceptions during the expansion of social policies and the implications of these changes.

Acting President Kang Hye-kyu noted, “The National Survey on Public Perceptions of Social Policy is a comprehensive resource for understanding various dimensions of welfare perceptions from the public’s perspective. We hope that this forum will facilitate constructive discussions for the development of concrete and effective social policies.”