South Korea Unveils 123-Policy Framework in Five-Year Plan

SEOUL, South Korea - The National Policy Planning Committee released a five-year national operation plan containing 123 individual policy measures across multiple government sectors, according to official documents.

The plan, issued under the Lee Jae-myung administration, divides policies into 12 strategic categories spanning economic development, social welfare, technology advancement, and national security through 2030.

The document outlines budget allocation of KRW 420 trillion, split between KRW 210 trillion in fiscal investment and KRW 210 trillion in resource coordination over the implementation period.

The plan designates KRW 177 trillion for core national projects and KRW 33 trillion for education spending, according to the policy framework.

Economic and Technology Measures

The plan targets specific economic benchmarks, including achieving third-place global standing in artificial intelligence capabilities and becoming the fifth-largest world economy.

Technology initiatives include expanding semiconductor production capacity and establishing a comprehensive AI development infrastructure.

Energy sector targets include increasing renewable energy capacity to 78.6 gigawatts by 2030 from the current 35.1 gigawatts. 

The plan sets goals for 30 percent renewable energy utilization and 10 percent battery storage implementation.

Social and Demographic Policies

Demographics measures address population decline through expanded childcare support and housing programs.

The plan allocates resources for increasing birth rates and supporting working families through extended parental leave and expanding childcare facilities.

Healthcare initiatives include expanding medical coverage to rural areas and increasing physician training programs.

Social welfare expansion targets low-income households and elderly populations through enhanced benefit programs.

Infrastructure and Defense Spending

Defense modernization receives allocation for military equipment upgrades and domestic defense industry development.

The plan includes provisions for cybersecurity enhancement and national security infrastructure improvement.

Transportation infrastructure projects encompass high-speed rail network expansion and regional connectivity improvements.

Digital infrastructure development targets nationwide broadband expansion and smart city implementation in major urban centers.

Implementation Timeline

The policy framework establishes implementation phases with initial targets for 2025 and completion by 2030.

Government agencies will coordinate execution across ministries with quarterly progress assessments, according to the planning committee documentation.

The plan requires legislative approval for budget allocations and regulatory changes outlined in the 123 policy measures.