By Yi Whan-woo
The chief of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy has called on the government to engage North Korea more positively.
“The President should scrap the May 24 measures and resume tours to the Mount Geumgang resort in the North,” interim leader Rep. Moon Hee-sang said in his New Year press conference.
Seoul’s May 24, 2010, measures ban all inter-Korean trade and other cooperative efforts including the tours, one of the North’s few precious cash cows. The Gaeseong Industrial Complex, a joint venture in North Korea, was excluded.
“We need to stop using empty slogans and start making concrete steps,” Moon said.
He specifically referred to trustpolitik, President Park Geun-hye’s campaign pledge to apply the rule of mutual trust in dealing with the North, and her slogan “unification is a bonanza” that captures her strong commitment to it.
Moon said President Park’s economic drive was aimed at benefiting family-owned conglomerates and the rich.
“I thought the president was talking about the economic situation in other countries yesterday,” Moon said.
He added that household debt had increased 30 percent over the past two years. “Their income is falling, but their daily expenses for education, medical care and living is rising,” Moon said.
“They inevitably have to borrow money over and over. Park’s policies are focusing on easing regulations excessively, freeing up the labor market and prioritizing family-owned conglomerates. And they will not help revive the slumping economy.”
Park spent much of her 90-minute press conference Monday giving details about her three-year economic reform plan.
It is intended to boost the sluggish economy by easing regulations, creating more jobs, and nurturing venture companies as well as small and medium-size enterprises.
Moon also slammed Park for her decision not to replace her key aides allegedly involved in the “memogate” scandal last year.
Park said Monday she would retain chief-of-staff Kim Ki-choon, and three Cheong Wa Dae secretaries who were pressed to quit for failing to assist Park properly
Kim faced criticism for incompetency in dealing with lax discipline at the presidential office.
The three are Lee Jae-man, secretary for administrative affairs; and Jeong Ho-sung and An Bong-geun, two personnel secretaries to the president.
They allegedly offered information on state affairs to Park’s former aide, Jeong Yun-hoe, although he does not hold any position at Cheong Wa Dae. Jeong was suspected of meddling in presidential affairs, although he claimed he had stayed away from politics for years.
“The key for the president’s government reform plan should be a personnel reshuffle,” Moon said. “But she has shown unswerving confidence in them.”