A mutual visit program with the National Assembly Library of Korea (NAL) was held from January 29 to February 1, 2007 at the NAL. Two staff members of the National Diet Library (NDL), Mr. Hideaki Nakagawa (Senior researcher, Interdisciplinary Research Service, Research and Legislative Reference Bureau) and Mr. Satoshi Tanaka (Researcher, Social Welfare and Labor Division, Research and Legislative Reference Bureau) visited the NAL for the program.

The mutual visit program between the two libraries started in 2003 with the aim of enhancing understanding of each other's parliamentary services. In the 2006 program, the following main sessions were held.

In Session I, Mr. Nakagawa reported on the development and current practice of "Guidelines for Services for the National Diet" and "The Second Basic Plan for Services for the National Diet." Dr. Sang Pal Lee reported on the NAL’s reorganization and the work contents of each department. The NLA and the NDL exchanged their views regarding the role of the parliamentary library.

In Session II, Mr. Satoshi Tanaka described the current state of the aging population in Japan. After that he outlined Japanese systems for pension, medical care and elderly nursing and reported the main issues concerning these systems. Dr. Hyun-Chool Lee reported on the characteristics found in the voting behavior of the elderly and its effects on politics in light of the aging population in Korea. Here the two libraries had an opportunity to discuss the issues caused by the aging population in each country.

In consideration of the NAL reorganization of its legislative research service sections, the NAL and the NDL agreed to continue discussion about the future mutual visit program through the staff in charge.

For reports of the past programs, please see here.