[LETTER TO THE EDITOR]The productivity priority

Currently, Korea is in an aging state and statistics show that by the year 2024, Korea will be a fully aged society. It is certain that there needs to be action taken to prepare for threats such as lowered production capacity and increased economic burden on the citizens (A Demographic Deadline, July 11).
Here are two suggestions. First, the government should amend the law to make retirement age flexible; people should work as long as their physical and mental abilities allow.
Second, higher education should be liberalized. Korea needs the most competent people to maximize its productivity, especially in high technology. The best way to do that is to make the competition fiercer. In a country where the president interferes in decisions made by a university, that is not feasible.

by Kim Hye-soo