노후소득보장수단으로서의 기초연금제도의 적정성에 대한 검토

Abstract

Considering rapid population aging in Korea, various policy efforts in the field of social security are required to prepare for the aging society, one of which is basic pension system. After much controversy about the introduction of basic pension system suggested as a presidential election pledge in 2012, 'Basic Pension Act' was eventually enacted in 2014, but it still faces a lot of problems and criticisms. Above all, questions are being raised as to whether the scope of qualified recipient and the amount of basic pension benefits are adequate. Recognizing these problems, this paper aims to suggest improvements for basic pension system so that it can fulfill its function as old-age income security system. It suggests specific improvements based on the analysis of the existing basic pension system according to the theoretical and normative standard and the standard of system structure. For the theoretical and normative analysis it reviews the fundamental purpose of basic pension system and the social security rights of the aged. For the analysis about system structure it examines the role of basic pension in the aspects of multi-pillar system for old-age income security and its institutional congruence with the other old-age income security systems. On the basis of this analysis, this paper proposes following improvements for the adequacy of basic pension system for old-age income security. Firstly, the policy goal and direction of basic pension system has to be clearly defined. That is, it needs to be reviewed and determined whether basic pension should function as social allowance or have institutional characteristics of public assistance, and accordingly the scope of the recipient needs to be redefined as well. Second, basic pension system has to be in the institutional congruence with national pension and national basic living security system in the multi-pillar system for old-age income security. In specific, 'universal' basic pension system needs to be separated from national pension system for income replacement. In addition, the extreme poor must be also guaranteed their right to enjoy basic pension benefits by differentiating between the roles of basic pension system and national basic living security system for selective public assistance. This paper supports demogrant-typed basic pension system without graded payment in principle and argues that it should be ensured that the number of qualified recipient of basic pension accounts for 80 percent by extending the existing scope of 70 percent. Furthermore, it is required to raise the amount of basic pension benefits to 15 percent of average income in order that basic pension system can accomplish its purpose of old-age income security. Most important of all is, however, social consensus should be reached in the formation of basic pension system. It is enough discussion and social consensus that are essential to define the contents of basic pension system by determining the purpose of basic pension, the scope of recipient and the amount of benefits.