Choi Jeong-yun (second from right), head of the National Pension Service's retirement preparation support division, receives a prime minister's commendation from First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Hyeon Su-yeop at the 15th Population Day government awards ceremony held at the Westin Josun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Friday. [National Pension Service]
Choi Jeong-yun (second from right), head of the National Pension Service's retirement preparation support division, receives a prime minister's commendation from First Vice Minister of Health and Welfare Hyeon Su-yeop at the 15th Population Day government awards ceremony held at the Westin Josun Seoul in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Friday. [National Pension Service]

The National Pension Service said it received a prime minister's commendation for contributions to aging response at the 15th Population Day ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Friday.

The government awards presented at the Population Day event recognize individuals and organizations that have actively responded to demographic shifts — including low birth rates and an aging population — and contributed to the advancement of population policy. The National Pension Service was honored for its efforts to support retirement preparation and address the challenges of an aging society.

The agency has worked to strengthen financial independence among young adults, particularly those entering the workforce who are less prepared for retirement. Its initiatives include personalized financial counseling tailored to different life stages to help build an economic foundation, as well as youth-oriented online content designed to raise awareness about retirement planning among future generations.

The service also built an integrated inquiry platform that allows users to check information on nine types of public and private pension plans in one place, and linked specialized service information from local governments and professional institutions to improve accessibility and convenience.

Kim Seong-ju, president of the National Pension Service, said the commendation reflects the collective efforts of the agency's staff to secure a stable retirement for the public in an aging society through tailored counseling for younger generations and digital service delivery. "The National Pension Service will continue to expand retirement preparation support so that all citizens can lead fulfilling lives and enjoy a happy retirement amid the demographic crisis of low birth rates and an aging population," he said.


thlee@heraldcorp.com