The head of the main opposition Democratic United Party (DUP) said Wednesday that preventing the ruling Saenuri Party from holding onto power is key to changing the country and enhancing the happiness of the people.
In a speech made at the National Assembly's plenary session, Rep. Lee Hae-chan said a "democratic administration" is needed to tackle uncertainties in the job market, education, living conditions, population aging and security issues.
He claimed ending Saenuri's rule in the upcoming presidential election will help push forward reforms that reflect the needs of the people.
"Saenuri and the Lee Myung-bak administration have failed to clean up outdated practices such as money politics, collusion between big businesses and politicians, corruption and use of state prosecutors as a political tool," the six-term lawmaker said.
He added that the situation has deteriorated to the point where people close to Saenuri presidential candidate Park Geun-hye are praising the 1961 military coup that brought Park Chung-hee to power. The late president, who was assassinated in 1979, is the father of the Saenuri presidential hopeful.
Lee said the DUP plans to place its highest priority on political reforms, even if this entails overcoming opposition from established interest groups.
"Reform plans call for banning lawmakers from engaging in profit-related activities, preventing legislators from holding second jobs, ending pension support for retired lawmakers and make sweeping changes to make it impossible for people to buy seats for elected positions," the party chairman said.
He also made clear that measures will be taken to implement wholesale changes to the state prosecutors office that will weaken its power.
"All measures will be taken to revamp the prosecutors office to ensure its neutrality, which includes the setting up of a new agency to monitor and prosecute crimes committed by high-ranking public servants," Lee said.
The DUP leader said actions will be taken to end the use of conscripts to fill out the ranks of police, with the cuts in manpower to be filled by the hiring of more officers.
He also said the main opposition party will take firm steps to rein in the power of big businesses by re-introducing an investment ceiling system, banning cross-shareholding among affiliates and expanding industries that can only be run by small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
SME support will also be provided by strengthening the Small and Medium Business Administration and appointing a new vice prime minister level official dedicated solely to creating more jobs.
The lawmaker said Seoul should take the lead to engage in dialogue with North Korea that includes holding another summit meeting, and ends the economic embargo imposed on the communist country. (Yonhap)