Trends and changes in social risks following the COVID-19

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to systematize the social risks that the social security system will face after COVID-19, and to seek the direction of future social security policies based on this. To this end, we tried to provide a causal explanation for the COVID-19 crisis and social risks. In addition, the trends and changes in social risk were analyzed by areas of income, labor, care, and social relations before and after the COVID-19 crisis. Indicators of income distribution deteriorated overall, and more vulnerable groups were identified, such as temporary workers, the self-employed, single-person households, low-income households, households with children, and single-parent households. In terms of labor and jobs, the damage to small businesses and the self-employed was severe, while the economic shock from the infectious disease was not great for high-income earners and some large corporations. As the care service provided by the state shrank during the spread of COVID-19, the burden of care was passed on to the family or a care vacuum was created. In addition, with the normalization of non-contact and non-face-to-face, we faced a crisis in social relations. Korea experiences greater changes in social relations than other OECD countries during the pandemic. A new type of disaster, such as COVID-19, requires a complete review of the existing disaster response system or risk management system. In disaster risk response, policies such as health care, income security, and social services are faced with the need to play a key role. Policy suggestions such as improving income stability and expanding child care were presented.