Learning From Korea: Innovative Social Investment Strategies for Future Generations

Social investment policies – policies that pursue both economic and social development – are increasingly shaping strategies for growth in both developed and developing nations. In January 2007, the Republic of Korea implemented a series of innovative policies, with a particular emphasis on investments in children. Informed by similar policies in the UK, the US and Canada, the Korean Minister of Health and Welfare, His Excellency Simin Rhyu, has now established a Child Development Accounts (CDAs) policy. These CDAs aim to build assets, foster financial education, and expand economic opportunity for the Republic of Korea’s future generations, beginning with those now most disadvantaged.

Rhyu has been deeply involved in progressive social policies and Korean politics far before his appointment as Minister of Health and Welfare. As a university student in 1980, Minister Rhyu was Chairman of the National Congress at the General Student Council of Seoul National University, one of the leading student organizations against the military coup d’etat. Due to his leadership role, he was imprisoned twice. While in prison, he helped spark the citizen movement against the dictatorship. Highlights from his dynamic career since his student leadership include serving as Chairman of the Republic’s majority party, as the Director of the Office for Policy Planning at the Korea Research Foundation, and as a member of the National Assembly, where he led reform on the national pension system. He is the author of two best-selling books, World History Upside Down and Cafe on Economics, both of which have sold more than one million copies.

Please join the New America Foundation for a special guest forum with Minister Rhyu to discuss Korea’s new and timely social investment strategy – particularly Child Development Accounts and Hope Start — and how they can inform policies in the US and around the world.

The forum is an event of the Global Assets Project, a joint venture of the Center for Social Development at Washington University in St. Louis and the Asset Building Program of New America.

Attachments

• MP3 Audio Recording of this Event
• Minister Rhyu’s Bio
• Minister Rhyu’s Presentation Slides
• Minister Rhyu’s Speech Text

Location

New America Foundation
1630 Connecticut Ave, NW 7th Floor
Washington, DC, 20009
See map: Google Maps

Participants

• His Excellency Simin Rhyu
  Minister of Health and Welfare
  Republic of Korea
• Ray Boshara
  Vice President and Director, Asset Building Program; Co-Director, Global Assets Project
  New America Foundation
• Tim Mahoney
  Director, Office of Poverty Reduction
  USAID