President Yoon Suk Yeol held a rare national address outlining his plans for pension reform, aiming to ensure the long-term sustainability of the fund, which has assets worth $830 billion. This move comes as Yoon faces low approval ratings and opposition confrontations, with his job approval ratings remaining below 40 percent. In his address, Yoon promised to implement legislation guaranteeing pension payments to all contributors and to adjust the contribution increase rate based on age groups to lessen the burden on younger generations. He also pledged to increase the basic pension for senior citizens by about 20 percent before his term ends in 2027. Yoon emphasized the need for a fundamental overhaul of the pension system to address issues of senior citizens' poverty and the younger generation's distrust. The urgency for pension reform is driven by the challenges of population aging and declining birth rates in South Korea, which are leading to the depletion of the public pension fund. Despite the significant opposition and potential dissatisfaction from the public, experts believe that Yoon's push for pension reform is necessary for the nation's future, even if it may not directly benefit his administration. This reform is seen as a high-stakes move that could shape Yoon's image as a leader willing to tackle one of the nation's biggest challenges, despite facing pushback from opposition parties and stakeholders. Additionally, Yoon's address on state affairs is seen as an attempt to assert his control within the ruling bloc and to address important social agendas, potentially overshadowing political rivalries within his party.