Park Ji-won is a writer for The Korea Times who has been covering a wide range of topics from Korea’s culture to its politics. An avid journalism enthusiast to the core, Ji-won brings a thoughtful and unique perspective to every topic she covers. On weekends, you'll often find her contemplating life’s purpose on a yoga mat — with a cup of quality tea in hand. A native Korean speaker by birth and fluent in English through her work, she went to college in Japan and is learning Chinese and French — hoping to add Polish, Russian and Thai to the mix.
Opposition leader asks Moon to change policy direction
Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) gives a speech at the National Assembly, Wednesday, marking the Aug. 15 Liberation Day, the celebration of Korea's freedom from Japanese colonial period in 1945. Yonhap
By Park Ji-won
By Park Ji-won
Hwang Kyo-ahn, chairman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) asked President Moon Jae-in to change his government's main state affairs agenda to keep the country afloat amid rising external uncertainty.
“The five-year term administration is putting the country in a national crisis as it tried to change the country's overall system,” Hwang said at the National Assembly, Wednesday, marking the Aug. 15 Liberation Day, the celebration of Korea's freedom from Japanese colonial rule in 1945.
Claiming that the Moon administration's signature income-led policy is controversial, he pledged to lead economic reform by annulling what he considers to be the anti-market and government policies such as the minimum wage hike and the reduction of working hours.
He stressed that the key is to take the spirit of the Constitution back to overcome the current difficulties. “I and the LKP will go all-out to seek the transformation of the administration,” he said.
His remarks came amid opposition parties' moves to raise offensives against what they called the government's “diplomatic and security failures.” The opposition parties have been criticizing President Moon Jae-in, asking Justice Minister nominee Cho Kuk, senior presidential secretary for civil affairs, and South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo to step down after creating “administrative failures” amid intensifying disputes with Japan over the handling of historic issues related to the Japanese colonial era.
Meanwhile, opposition parties have been continuing to offer their ideas on how to tackle the current trade friction with Japan.
The LKP recently formed a party committee for economic issues, where they also come up with measures to improve the country's economy as well as proposals to deal with Japan's trade regulations.
Rep. Oh Shin-hwan, floor leader of the minor opposition Bareunmirae Party (BMP) asked the government to team up with the United States in resolving the bilateral trade dispute. Rep. Shin Yong-hyeon of the BMP also urged the government to invest more in research and development projects so that the country can develop core technologies while eliminating unnecessary regulations such as the 52-hour workweek policy.
The proposals came amid worries Japan would take further restrictive measures against South Korean manufacturing sector after refusing to accept Seoul's offer for diplomatic dialogue. Japan earlier rejected Korea's proposal to form a joint fund for Korean victims of forced labor in June.
Although the moves are nothing new and appear to tackle the negative sentiment against opposition parties amid rising support of the government's strong pushback against Japan's moves, insiders say it is noticeable as it is the first time for the country's major opposition parties to float the ideas.
However, some opposition politicians have raised their eyebrows over their parties' moves.
“Amid rising popularity of the ruling bloc thanks to the determined approach against Japan, members of opposition parties are not willing to come up with countermeasures against Japan as they know it will not work under the current administration, meaning there will be no innovative plan to tackle the situation,” an LKP lawmaker said.