Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
Ahn vows to focus on 'fair growth'
Rep. Ahn Cheol-soo
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
Independent lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo vowed Sunday to put priority on achieving “fair growth” when mapping out economic policies if he creates a new opposition party.
This indicates that Ahn may maintain a tough stance against family-owned conglomerates which have been accused of monopolizing businesses and stifling small firms.
“All market structures should be based on fair competition, not oligopoly. I believe small- and medium-sized enterprises should be given a chance to grow into a conglomerate,” he said during a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul.
This is the first time that Ahn has shared his vision to bolster the economy after quitting the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy (NPAD) on Dec. 13 amid power struggle between him and NPA D Chairman Moon Jae-in.
He said he left to form a new liberal party capable of winning the presidential election in 2017 and changing the government, saying that it is impossible for the NPAD to achieve this goal.
Citing widening income equality in the society, Ahn said education is a key tool to help young job seekers to live a better life regardless of their family incomes.
“People should be given an equal opportunity to receive education no matter how rich their parents are and where they live,” Ahn said.
Ahn said a tax hike is inevitable to the growing social needs and called on lawmakers to be frank on the issue, even if they could face public rebuke over a possible tax hike.
He also stressed the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and called for the development of relations between South Korea and China.
China has overtaken the United States as South Korea's No. 1 trade partner in recent years.
Ahn, who is seen as a political moderate, called for systemization of welfare, saying increase in tax is “inevitable.”
“Taxpayers’ money should be spent to cover diverse areas. Those areas include health, education, culture and sport.”
Ahn also said he will pursue rational reform and lashed out at political polarization.
“There is no room for dialogue and compromise” in a political situation where politicians with biased views stigmatize and ostracize their opponents, said Ahn. "No country has succeeded with political polarization."
For decades, local politics has been divided mainly along regional and ideological fault lines. South Korea's southeast region has been the political stronghold of the ruling conservative Saenuri Party, while the southwestern region has been the political turf of the main opposition liberal New Politics Alliance for Democracy.
"A new party will put rational reform at the center of politics," Ahn said as he called for a new political paradigm to end what he claims is old politics riddled with enmity and confrontation.