Today, the need for mid- to long-term strategy research is increasing due to the expansion of uncertainty and rapid environmental changes at home and abroad. In response to social challenges that arise in such a complex environment, strategies are needed to achieve a desirable future. This study aims to analyze time-series data using future society response indicators derived in 2021 and use them as basic data to establish a strategy. This study derived future scenarios and discovered indicators to measure desirable future visions and strategies. Desirable visions of the future included three aspects: a smart growth society, a sustainable safe society, and a cooperative society that respects diversity.
A smart growth society is a society that develops both the economy and society through technological and institutional innovation, leading to prosperity. To this end, strategies such as the transition to a technology innovation economy, responses to digital transformation, and the mitigation of polarization through social innovation are needed. As a result of examining R&D expenditures, research manpower, the proportion of technology-based start-ups, and the number of workers in the science and technology field, the overall trend was increasing. As a result of examining inequality through the Gini coefficient, there is a trend of improvement, but inequality is still high compared to OECD countries.
A sustainable and secure society is a safe society that is free of confusion, even in the face of unprecedented changes in population, climate, and technology. Strategies such as establishing a social environment for giving birth and raising children, building a healthy and humane aging society, responding to the climate crisis and transitioning to a carbon-neutral society, and forming a safe living environment and sustainable local communities are needed. The indicators demonstrated a gradual improvement trend in the elderly poverty rate, but this remains at the highest level among OECD countries,. Greenhouse gas emissions showed a decreasing trend but were also high compared to OECD countries.
A cooperative society that respects diversity means a society that recognizes differences and coexists based on mutual cooperation. Strategies such as establishing a coexistent social system for resolving social conflicts, establishing a customized learning and flexible education system, and developing democracy and social integration are needed. The indicator analysis demonstrated that the degree of inclusiveness of foreign immigrants and workers is improving, but the degree of inclusiveness is low when compared internationally. The Corruption Perceptions Index of South Korea ranked 32 out of 180 countries, which is relatively good, and it can be seen that it has greatly improved over the past five years.
An examination of future society response indicators shows overall improvement, but some indicators such as the relative poverty rate, the elderly poverty rate, the female economic participation rate, and the share of renewable energy generation are low when compared internationally. More active efforts are needed to respond to future social changes.
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