"Three Years of Moon Jaein Administration, an Era of Disaster"... United Future Party's Assembly Speech Packed with Criticism of the Government

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy, reporter Lee Jieun] On February 19, Shim Jaecheol, floor leader of the United Future Party, criticized the current administration's economic, political, and security policies in his National Assembly speech, declaring, "Three years of the Moon Jaein administration have been an era of disaster," and appealed for support in the upcoming general election.

Speaking at the National Assembly that day, Shim stated, "The people longed for fairness and yearned for just power, but after two years and nine months, fairness and justice have been trampled, and the people's hopes have been betrayed."

He continued, "Although it was packaged as the Candlelight Revolution, those who once held candles now look at the Moon Jaein administration with cynicism. The past three years of the Moon Jaein government have truly been an era of disaster." He then criticized the current administration in detail from three perspectives: ▲constitutional disaster ▲livelihood disaster ▲security disaster.

Shim argued, "The Constitution clearly states that the Republic of Korea is a liberal democracy, but due to the tyranny of power, the rule of law has disappeared and parliamentary democracy has been destroyed." He added, "The administration has taken control of the judiciary, neutralized the prosecution, and created a society of fear that forces silence. The Moon Jaein government is betraying liberal democracy."

Regarding the 'Cho Kuk scandal,' Shim said, "The president appointed Cho Kuk, who was both a suspect under prosecution investigation and the embodiment of injustice, foul play, and privilege, as Minister of Justice." He further pointed out, "The president stubbornly insisted on embracing Cho Kuk, waging an all-out confrontation with the people."

He also mentioned the establishment of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIH), the Ulsan mayoral election manipulation case, and the controversy over prosecution personnel appointments, stating, "The United Future Party will guarantee the prosecutor general's term and authority and grant the prosecution independent budgetary authority to ensure its independence from politics." He emphasized, "We will make sure that incidents like the mass personnel reshuffle carried out by Minister of Justice Choo Mi-ae are never repeated," and pledged to abolish the CIH.

Shim also criticized the Moon administration's income-led growth policy, stating, "It has reduced the national economy to a subject of leftist populist experimentation." He pointed out, "The reckless introduction of the minimum wage hike and the 52-hour workweek, along with policies protecting the vested interests of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, have sapped companies' motivation. Even after distributing tax money as if from a helicopter, the economic growth rate was only 2%." He stressed that abolishing income-led growth and a major policy shift are necessary to resolve these issues.

Regarding real estate policy, he said, "The government announced measures eighteen times claiming to control real estate, but the result has been nothing but soaring prices and a freeze in transactions." He criticized, "Not only the Minister of Justice but also the Democratic Party's party leader and floor leader have successively advocated the public concept of land ownership, signaling the administration's intention to move toward socialism through constitutional amendment."

On security, he strongly criticized the administration, referring to it as "Kim Jong Un's admirer" and "pro-China subservience." Shim said, "President Moon Jaein initially said he would take the lead in resolving the North Korean nuclear issue, but it ended as empty talk. He has persistently acted as an admirer of Kim Jong Un, and even though North Korea's nuclear weapons now pose a direct security threat, the government only tries to appease the North and has even disarmed itself."

He continued, "The administration's diplomacy is drifting toward pro-China subservience. Look at the response to the Wuhan pneumonia (COVID-19) crisis. The initial response to protect public health was clumsy, the government hesitated to ban entry of Chinese nationals and visitors from China, and it is even reluctant to use the words 'China' or 'Wuhan' in naming the disease," criticizing the initial response. He also pressed the Democratic Party, saying, "Immediately adopt the United Future Party's resolution urging a ban on entry for foreigners who have visited China, and do not delay forming a special committee."

He further emphasized, "We must sign a US-ROK nuclear sharing agreement to establish a broader and stronger nuclear umbrella, resume all major US-ROK joint military exercises, and only proceed with the transfer of wartime operational control after the complete dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program. We must officially extend the Korea-Japan General Security of Military Information Agreement and rebuild the framework for US-ROK-Japan security cooperation."

He declared, "The United Future Party will achieve a landslide victory in the 21st general election and end the three major disasters of the Moon Jaein administration," adding, "The general election will be a 'Pink Revolution,' a massive wave of public sentiment that will judge the three disasters of the Moon Jaein administration." This remark referenced the party's official color, 'Happy Pink.'

He concluded, "This general election must put an end to the constitutional, livelihood, and security disasters," and appealed, "Fellow citizens, please use your precious vote to end the era of disaster under the Moon Jaein administration."