elect Lee Promises More Welfare Benefits
By Kim Sue-young
Staff Reporter
Presidential candidate Lee Myung-bak of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) said Sunday that the nation needs to achieve economic growth that meets the demands of people and provides more welfare benefits.
He also promised to improve the welfare system.
``Despite the increased budget for welfare, the polarization gets worse. It is mainly attributable to the slow economy,'' Lee told reporters during his visit to a nursing home in Seoul. ``Welfare as well as redistribution can be possible when we achieve economic development.''
Lee, former Seoul mayor, promised that the state will take care of people's whole lives from birth to post-retirement.
He presented seven welfare projects to assist the young, middle-aged people and senior citizens.
The conservative party candidate promised to use more subsidies for married couples with infertility treatment, medical treatment for pregnant women and childbirth.
He added that he will financially support childrearing, education and living conditions for underprivileged families.
Lee vowed to reduce the burden on educational expenses and prepare more scholarship programs to help students facing financial problems.
He also said the youth will have more jobs through seven percent economic growth as his signature economic pledge presented.
More life-long educational and vocational programs will help the middle aged start the second phase of their lives, said Lee, 65, former CEO of Hyundai Engineering and Construction.
He also said that more medical subsidies will take the burden off those who have difficulties caring for senile parents.
More subsidies will be provided for people's welfare after retirement such as treatment for serious illness like cancer, he said.
Extending the retirement age will be helpful to offer the graying population more jobs, he added.
For disabled people, Lee vowed to provide more support by introducing pension and education programs specially designed for them.