What did President Lee say?

According to Yonhap News, President Lee Jae-myung said on October 28, 2026 that priority systems for multicultural families run by Seoul and other local governments have become a problem. He said the government would consider whether such preferential treatment is needed at all, and whether it should be abolished, in consultation with local governments and possibly through amendments to enforcement decrees.

Why is this being discussed?

The debate started with a post on a Korean online community about Seoul's "safe postpartum care center" reservation ranking. The post pointed out that mothers from multicultural families and mothers from national merit (veteran) families are placed in the same second priority group. Lee shared the post on his X account and thanked the author, which quickly drew attention to the issue.

Why it matters

The discussion touches on how Korea balances support for different groups. Lee's remarks suggest the government may review not only whether multicultural families are protected from disadvantage, but whether they should receive extra priority at all.

For international fans

This story is part of an ongoing public debate in Korea about fairness in welfare and public services. Multicultural families in Korea often include foreign-born spouses and their children. Policies on this topic can change depending on local government decisions and national regulations, so further details may emerge as the review proceeds.