Korea to launch task force to tackle disparities

Korea will establish a new task force under the leadership of Finance Minister Lee Hyoung-il to tackle growing disparities across various sectors, the government announced on Wednesday. During a meeting with related economy ministers, Minister Lee unveiled the plan, explaining that the task force will comprise five working groups.

These groups will focus on addressing disparities in the labor market, industries, regions, generations and social classes. Each group will be headed by a vice minister responsible for their respective area, working alongside state-run research institutes to pinpoint key policy tasks.

The government warns that the rapid transformation driven by artificial intelligence could exacerbate disparities, potentially creating a K-shaped divide. Concerns persist that the benefits of growth are not being equally shared with those at the bottom, and upward mobility remains limited. The working groups are set to officially launch on Thursday, with each group expected to present its detailed goals to the task force by early December. These key policy agendas will be incorporated into Korea's economic growth plan for 2027.