I am an editorial writer at The Korea Times, focusing on foreign policy, North Korea and domestic politics. My key areas of interest include North Korea, foreign interference in elections, election integrity, cyberattacks and human rights. Prior to joining the Editorial Board, I served as both Politics Desk editor and Culture Desk editor. During my career, I have reported on the Presidential Office under the Lee Myung-bak administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Assembly.
Assembly urged to rethink populist laws
By Kang Hyun-kyung
Activists from 31 civic groups joined hands Tuesday to urge lawmakers to stop promising non-feasible policies ahead of the general and presidential elections to be held next year.
The move came a day after Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik said Monday that the government would rethink policies that require large budgets but whose effectiveness are questionable.
The prime minister made the remarks after the government recently announced host sites for two lucrative state projects; Daedeok in Chungcheong province for the nation’s science belt and Jinju, South Gyeongsang Province for the new LH headquarters.
During the press conference in downtown Seoul the civic groups called on lawmakers not to make campaign pledges featuring populist elements. Those who participated in the joint campaign included a parents’ association fighting for public education and a lawyers’ group.
They said that populist legislation has gone too far and lawmakers promise anything to be elected.
Using too much political consideration in the legislative process will force the nation to head in the wrong direction as the government will need to spend enormously even on projects whose effectiveness is not proven, they warned.
They issued the statement before the nation holds two major elections next year. The National Assembly elections are to take place in April, and the presidential election in December.
The civic groups warned of the negative consequences of campaign pledges having populist elements on the nation after seeing the government cancel or adjust the implementation of numerous campaign pledges.
Earlier, the government cancelled a plan to construct an airport in a southern province, saying it was not economically viable and the nation already suffers massive setbacks because of business losses from the operation of existing airports.
The decision prompted a backlash from local residents of South Gyeongsang Province and Busan, the two candidate venues for the project.
Before this, the government failed to alter the initial plan to relocate several government offices to Sejong City, located southeast of Seoul. The relocation plan was a campaign pledge of the late former President Roh Moo-hyun when he ran in the 2002 presidential election.
Those who opposed the initial relocation said that inefficiency and the division of government functions between two cities in distant locations will make it difficult for the government to respond to emergencies quickly.
Despite the worries, the government failed to change the relocation plan.