Jun Ji-hye, a reporter at the finance desk of The Korea Times, focuses primarily on economic policy and government agencies, mainly covering the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Budget and Planning, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service. She previously covered financial authorities, including the Financial Services Commission and the Financial Supervisory Service, and earlier worked on the political, city and business desks, reporting on a wide range of issues.
Saenuri chairman calls for focusing on economic revival
Ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Kim Moo-sung speaks during a news conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. / Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
By Jun Ji-hye
Ruling Saenuri Party Chairman Rep. Kim Moo-sung pledged Wednesday that the party would exert maximum effort toward economic recovery this year.
During his New Year news conference, Kim said, “I totally agree with President Park Geun-hye’s remarks that this year is the golden time for revitalizing the economy. If we miss this opportunity, another chance will never come.”
Toward that end, the five-term lawmaker called for the need to learn from Japan’s painful experience of 20 years ago.
“Japan’s property bubble burst in 1991 and the economy began to see a long period of stagnation that is known as the country’s ‘lost 20 years.’ This resulted in the collapse of the manufacturing business,” he said. He noted that Korea is on a similar path.
He argued that if the nation makes slow progress in reforming various fields like labor, finance and education, its economy will sink into the mire and suffer from even more problems.
“It is difficult. But the nation needs to take drastic and prompt measures for structural reform,” he said. “Considering the national finances, we can no longer delay reforming the pension system for public servants. We all need to make compromises to save the Republic of Korea.”
Kim cited the need for the National Assembly to extend support for the economic recovery, saying he will ask the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) to join hands. He recalled that his NPAD counterpart Rep. Moon Hee-sang has said the opposition is ready to help the Park government.
He also promised to enhance communication between the governing party and the presidential office.
“The two bodies share a common destiny. I will regularly meet President Park and have a heart-to-heart talk,” he said.
Regarding the possible parole for imprisoned business leaders, Kim took a step backward from his original position, apparently wary of mounting public criticism of such a move.
“The regulations of the Justice Ministry stipulate that only those who serve 80 percent of their term in prison can get parole. I think breaking this rule is difficult for now,” he said.
He earlier raised the need to grant parole for jailed group owners, including SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won, to help invigorate the nation’s sagging economy.
With regard to a Cheong Wa Dae officer who fingered him and his fellow lawmaker Rep. Yoo Seong-min as the masterminds of the “memogate” scandal, Kim said, “That was a slanderous act. I was at a loss.”
The officer’s argument was known to the public, Monday, after Kim’s notebook that he held during the parliamentary session was captured by photo journalists. Kim’s memo in his notebook read: “The mastermind in the scandal is K and Y. I will defiantly unearth it.”
“K” reportedly stood for Kim, and “Y” for Yoo.
Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye