창작과 비평

The Quarterly Changbi 213, Fall 2026

The Age of AI: We Need a New Welfare System

Amid the rapid transformation of labor and living conditions brought about by the swift advancement of artificial intelligence, this issue’s dialogue was held under the theme “The Age of AI: We Need a New Welfare System.” Moderated by feminist scholar Choi Sihyun, the discussion brought together social welfare scholar Yoon Hong Sik, Jang Ji-yeon of the Korea Labor Institute, and National Assembly member Cha Ji ho.

Beginning with an examination of the prospect of “production without labor,” the participants assessed how AI driven job displacement poses risks not only to young people but also to high income professionals. They then considered whether Korea’s current social safety net is prepared to respond to these challenges. The conversation analyzed the historical role of real estate in Korean society as a functional substitute for public welfare, and how income inequality has increasingly translated into asset inequality, making upward mobility more difficult. From there, the participants explored potential strategies for mitigating polarization.

A wide range of proposals was discussed from ideas about public ownership of AI, to tax reform, the socialization of care labor, shifting welfare from a household based to a citizen based model, and integratively designing production and distribution from the outset while diversifying Korea’s growth model.