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.
Let next government decide on state projects: Park
By Kang Hyun-kyung, Chung Min-uck
Rep. Park Geun-hye, leading presidential candidate of the ruling Saenuri Party, urged putting the brakes on pending key state projects of the Lee Myung-bak administration during a meeting with political editors of major newspapers and broadcasters, Monday.
“Decision-making on huge state projects, in need of large funding, should be passed on to the next administration since they could be handled in a hasty manner if carried out at the end of a president’s term,” said Park in a discussion session hosted by the Korea News Editors’ Association.
“Incheon International Airport should not be sold hurriedly... the same applies to the privatization of Woori Financial Holdings Co.. The single most important thing is to recoup as much public funds as possible since the money injected into the company came from the taxpayers.”
She took the same stance regarding the pending fighter jet acquisition program, calling for such major state-initiated schemes to be postponed until the new administration takes office early next year. Following are excerpts of the debate.
Q: The main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) points out “economic democratization without Chaebol (conglomerates) reforms” are vague. What do you think of it?
A: I don’t think the DUP’s insistence of reforming Chaebol is good for our economy. Regardless of medium- or big-sized businesses, they should get equal opportunities with harmony in growth. Economic democratization should be focused on correcting abuse of economic power, not concentrating economic power as the DUP claims.
Q: Preparing any policy for revitalizing real estate market?
A: I don’t think real estate prices will jump any more as seen in the past. For private housing sites, abolishing the parcel price ceiling system for more vivid private investment will be needed. However, a cautious approach is needed to lift the debt-to-income (DTI) ceiling. I don’t agree to it since such a lifting could increase consumer debt and lead to rise in bad loans in financial institutions.
Q: What about the readjustment of corporation tax?
A: Corporation tax should be lowered as much as possible. Unlike other sorts of tax, companies induce investment and they also have to compete with overseas firms.
Q: Would you tell us your opinion about Ahn Cheol-soo, a professor of Seoul National University, and Rep. Moon Jae-in of the main opposition Democratic United Party?
A: Regarding Ahn, I have no idea what to expect. (Speaking honestly,) nothing came up to my mind. I have no idea what he thinks probably because there is almost nothing that was made public about this. I believe he would have thought about (his visions) though. But I have no idea about his vision.
With regard to Moon, I think not only him but also other presidential candidates of the opposition camp kept trying to link any issues or agendas in order to attack me. When people outside the country see this, they would have thought that domestic politics here is all about attacking Park Geun-hye. I think this is a due allegation (considering what they have done so far).
When he keeps doing this, it’s natural that people have a hard time understanding what he has in mind (because he is just attacking without presenting his visions.)
Q: Tell us about your view on the Seoul City educational authorities’ launch of the probe of the Jeongsu Scholarship Foundation that you were involved in? The opposition party called for donating the foundation for the community. Any thought about this?
A: If they said they would start an investigation into the foundation, they would do it. Regarding their calls to donate the foundation, it is a non-profit group…. If they insist that I settle the problems regarding the foundation, I am afraid that I don’t know how to do it… (because) the former Roh Moo-hyun government made every effort to normalize it but couldn’t.