KIHASA has published seven new research reports, including: “Parental Support in Young Adulthood: Dimensions of Support and Social Inequality” and “Measuring Happiness and Quality of Life for Social Policy-Making.”

1. Parental Support in Young Adulthood: Dimensions of Support and Social Inequality by Choi, Sunyoung, et al.

This study examines the characteristics of parental support during young adulthood. It reveals that parental support extends beyond financial assistance to include emotional support, advice, and involvement, with strong emotional bonds facilitating greater instrumental support. Parents and children recognize the value of parental support, not as a matter of moral obligation but as a crucial factor influencing their transition to adulthood. The study also highlights class-based disparities in parental support.

2. Measuring Happiness and Quality of Life for Social Policy-Making by Kim, Seonga, et al.

The overarching objective of social policy is to enhance people’s happiness and quality of life. This study examines the validity and reliability of measurements of happiness, an abstract experience, and quality of life, a multidimensional concept.

3. Characteristics of Long-term Changes in Social Security Fiscal Allocation and Directions for Improvement by Kang, Shin-Wook, et al.

This study analyzes the characteristics of changes in central government spending on social security from 2007 to 2024. To do so, we built a social security fiscal database and analyzed the distribution of social security expenditures by target, benefit type, and age group. We also compared the changes in fiscal expenditures with the changes in major social risks by age group to draw implications for improving future fiscal expenditures.

4. Restructuring the Korean Welfare State: A Study on the Challenges of Technological, Demographic, and Climate Change by Kim, Ki-tae, et al.

The Korean welfare state is facing three megatrends: technological change, demographic change, and climate change. This study analyzes whether and how these three factors individually and collectively reinforce or alleviate existing new and old ‘social risks’ and whether they may lead to new types of social risks. The concept of social risks was reviewed, and the current state of the Korean welfare state was examined. In the main body, each chapter analyzed how each change affects old and new social risks and contributes to forming new types of social risks, referred to as third-generation social risks. Finally, the study explored how these three changes interact or mediate one another to impact social risks. Through this analysis, six emerging types of third-generation social risks were identified.

5. Population Policy in Germany by Joo, Bohye, et al.

Amid a growing sense of crisis in South Korea, driven by the world’s lowest fertility rate and a rapidly aging population, there is mounting pressure to overhaul the nation’s population policy. Germany’s experience with a low birthrate and aging population, which preceded South Korea’s, along with its efforts to address these challenges in response to a national crisis, offers valuable lessons. In the 1990s, Germany had the lowest fertility rate in Europe, but through significant family policy reforms, including expanding childcare facilities and introducing parental leave, it has emerged as a model for addressing low fertility. Germany’s regional policy, which emphasizes “equal living conditions,” is characterized by the development of policy strategies and specific implementation plans built on social consensus about the policy’s direction. Regarding immigration policy, the government introduced the Immigration Act for Skilled Workers (Fachkr？fteeinwanderungsgesetz) and is working to transform the country into a more attractive destination for immigrants.

6. A Case Study on Japan's Policy Responses to Population Decline by Hwang, Num-hui, et al.

This study reviewed Japan’s population decline policies to identify applicable measures for Korea. Japan’s approach―centered on child-rearing support and regional revitalization―involves collaboration between central and local governments. Key initiatives include attracting foreign talent, supporting internal migration, addressing vacant housing, and assisting shopping refugees. The study suggests five directions for Korea: improve the system by taking advantage of the purpose of the hometown love donation system, respond to the de facto population and the society with more deaths than births, efforts to improve local residents’ awareness and acceptance of foreign workers, promote public-private cooperation and an integrated approach, and establish a support system for shopping refugees.

7. Statistical Yearbook of Poverty 2024 by Yeo, Eugene & Choi, Junyoung

Indicators of poverty and inequality serve as a basis for assessing the scale of vulnerable populations and social policy beneficiaries, as well as the effectiveness of related policies. At the same time, they are essential for accurately understanding the state of income distribution in Korean society, diagnosing its problems, and exploring policy alternatives. This study provides reliable statistics on key indicators of poverty and inequality, along with information that enables the identification of their trends over time. It is intended to serve as foundational data for research on poverty and inequality, benefiting not only researchers studying income and wealth distribution, but also policymakers, related experts, and students.