People's Party leader claims role of balancer
By Kim Hyo-jin
Rep. Woo Won-shik, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), vowed to push for multiple reform bills that have been or will be submitted to back the Moon Jae-in government's policies to eradicate deep-rooted irregularities and corruption in society.
In a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office, Wednesday, Woo said that he will make every effort to reform the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and public broadcasters.
"We will seek bills to set up an independent investigative body for corruption by high-level public officials, halt the spy agency's investigation into liberal figures, and free public broadcasters from political influence," he said.
The party whip also promised to come up with next year's budget bill with expanded welfare and state subsidies.
"We will seek economic reform plans including an increase in basic pension payments, extended childcare support, heavier taxes on the super-rich and big conglomerates," he said.
Welcoming Moon's order to launch a special probe into whether there was a helicopter attack against the 1980 pro-democracy protests in Gwangju earlier in the day, Woo said the party will set up a special committee to look deeper into the matter. "We also take the issue very seriously," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Dong-cheol, Woo's counterpart in the minor opposition People's Party, also held a press conference to mark his 100 days of leadership, and expressed his determination about passing a constitutional amendment to reform current election system.
"I'll do my utmost to prop up a stable multi-party system through systemic reforms," he said.
Despite criticism that the minor liberal party flip-flopped on its position on current affairs under the Moon administration, Kim said he would rather view it as "cooperative politics."
"We tried to act as a balancer in the two-party system," he said. "I believe our conservative criticism is helping the Moon administration become successful."
By Kim Hyo-jin
Rep. Woo Won-shik, the floor leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), vowed to push for multiple reform bills that have been or will be submitted to back the Moon Jae-in government's policies to eradicate deep-rooted irregularities and corruption in society.
In a press conference to mark his first 100 days in office, Wednesday, Woo said that he will make every effort to reform the prosecution, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and public broadcasters.
"We will seek bills to set up an independent investigative body for corruption by high-level public officials, halt the spy agency's investigation into liberal figures, and free public broadcasters from political influence," he said.
The party whip also promised to come up with next year's budget bill with expanded welfare and state subsidies.
"We will seek economic reform plans including an increase in basic pension payments, extended childcare support, heavier taxes on the super-rich and big conglomerates," he said.
Welcoming Moon's order to launch a special probe into whether there was a helicopter attack against the 1980 pro-democracy protests in Gwangju earlier in the day, Woo said the party will set up a special committee to look deeper into the matter. "We also take the issue very seriously," he said.
Meanwhile, Kim Dong-cheol, Woo's counterpart in the minor opposition People's Party, also held a press conference to mark his 100 days of leadership, and expressed his determination about passing a constitutional amendment to reform current election system.
"I'll do my utmost to prop up a stable multi-party system through systemic reforms," he said.
Despite criticism that the minor liberal party flip-flopped on its position on current affairs under the Moon administration, Kim said he would rather view it as "cooperative politics."
"We tried to act as a balancer in the two-party system," he said. "I believe our conservative criticism is helping the Moon administration become successful."
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