[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] Kim Hyun-ah, Emergency Response Committee member of the United Future Party, addressed the internal criticism toward the committee, stating, "Resistance within is inevitable for innovation," and added, "I want to embrace the voices of those who express slightly different opinions."
On the 3rd, Kim appeared on KBS Radio's 'Kim Kyung-rae's Strongest Current Affairs' and said, "Change without internal resistance is just a show."
He explained, "Overcoming our internal political inertia and resistance is an indispensable process," and added, "Accepting diverse opinions, discussing and debating them, persuading and understanding, and then revising by incorporating the other party's views is a democratic procedure."
Regarding the disciplinary case of former Democratic Party lawmaker Geum Tae-seop, he said, "It was almost a punishment akin to a posthumous disgrace," and added, "If Representative Geum had been re-elected afterward, one might think such actions had meaning as internal discipline, but he was eliminated during the nomination process and lost the election."
He continued, "Isn't it a warning message not to deviate from the party line as an example?" and added, "I feel a bit bitter about the Democratic Party's appearance where democracy has disappeared."
About the changes pursued by the United Future Party's Emergency Response Committee, Kim said, "Honestly, after experiencing an election, it seems that people who vote with the idea of progressive or conservative are mostly those in their late 40s and older, and for those in their mid-40s and younger, whether it's progressive or conservative doesn't seem very important in life," and explained, "To pass the future to the younger generation and enable proactive political activities, we need to remove the dividing walls of value standards based on factionalism."
Regarding the party's discussion on basic income, he said, "Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I think we need to proactively consider basic income more in advance," but also explained, "Fundamentally, the philosophy regarding sustainability and prioritization remains unchanged. It's not something to be given once and done." He clarified reports about including 'Youth Basic Income' as the first policy by saying that "nothing has been decided."
On the ruling party's attempt to convene the National Assembly without negotiation, Kim pointed out, "Many people think that work only starts once the assembly convenes, but members of the National Assembly work once their terms begin regardless of convening," and added, "When there is some agreement and the assembly convenes, work proceeds much faster, but if it convenes without agreement, it's just an open-and-shut case."
He continued, "I see the Democratic Party's insistence on taking all standing committee chair positions as a kind of bluff for negotiation, and I think they will make appropriate concessions," and added, "But if the bluff lasts too long, the public won't be pleased, so I hope this is resolved quickly."
He also emphasized the necessity of handing over the chairmanship of the Legislation and Judiciary Committee to the opposition. Kim said, "Even when the Democratic Party had about 80 seats in the past, they ended up taking it," and added, "You can't conclude things just by having the chairmanship; agreement between the floor leaders is very important."
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