Better Korea Forum (더좋은대한민국포럼)

A policy discussion forum centered on citizens and experts that discusses South Korea's future vision and policy alternatives.

Better Korea Forum (더좋은대한민국포럼)

Overview

The Better Korea Forum is a policy discussion forum in which experts and citizens from all walks of life gather to discuss and propose policy alternatives, with the goal of South Korea's sustainable development and national unity. Without leaning toward any particular political faction, it broadly addresses current issues across politics, economy, society, and culture, and aims to derive feasible alternatives through discussion and research. Its main activities include seminars, policy roundtables, and publication of research reports.

Main Content

Background and Purpose of Establishment

The Better Korea Forum began from the awareness of the need for a venue for constructive discussion that goes beyond partisan logic, amid deepening political polarization and generational and class conflicts. Its core purpose is not short-term partisan interests but to place mid- to long-term national strategy and the public good at the center, and to establish a deliberative discussion culture in which various stakeholders work together.

Composition and Operation

The forum is composed of participants from diverse backgrounds, including academia, industry, civil society, and youth. It operates regular forums and working groups by division, and each division researches major agendas such as low birth rates and aging, balanced regional development, industrial competitiveness, education reform, and the social safety net. Its operation is relatively horizontal and open, encouraging new participation and free presentation of topics.

Main Activities

Policy seminars and debates: Through expert presentations and panel discussions on current issues, it organizes the issues and seeks alternatives.
Research and policy proposals: Based on the results of division research, it writes and publicizes policy recommendations or reports.
Networking and cooperation: It aims to serve as a channel connecting discussions to actual policy by cooperating with the government, the National Assembly, local governments, and civic organizations.
Expansion of the public sphere: It broadens participation by ordinary citizens through online content and public discussions.

Core Agendas

The agendas the forum focuses on are broadly divided into four branches. First, the population and welfare field includes responding to low birth rates and a sustainable pension and welfare system. Second, in the economy and industry field, fostering advanced industries, the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises, and changes in the job structure are discussed. Third, in the education and talent field, innovation in public education and a lifelong learning system are addressed. Fourth, in the politics and governance field, political reform, decentralization, and intergenerational dialogue emerge as major topics.

Significance and Limitations

This forum is significant in that it emphasizes dialogue beyond camps and a policy orientation. However, because it is a private forum centered on voluntary participation, there are structural limitations in having the derived proposals lead to actual legislation and policy. Therefore, establishing policy links and securing continuous implementation capacity to increase the effectiveness of the discussions are pointed out as major tasks.

Latest Trends

Entering 2024–2025, the forum is expanding its agendas in line with the rapidly changing domestic and international environment. It is including new agendas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation, responding to the climate crisis, and supply chain reorganization in its regular discussions, and attempts to reflect the voices of the younger generation and regions facing local extinction are increasing. In addition, the trend of expanding the public sphere digitally by using online live streaming and podcast and video content is notable. Furthermore, in a time of severe partisan confrontation, movements to draw out bipartisan cooperation discussions centered on centrist and pragmatic agendas are also observed. In terms of participant composition, efforts to increase the proportion of youth, women, and local figures are continuing.