Jeong Byeong-guk "Why Was Park Geun-hye Impeached... An Extreme Form of Factional Politics"

Regarding Kim Jong-in's Emergency Committee: "Consensus Must Be Built Among Members"
"Basic Income Should Be an Agenda Conservatives Take the Lead On"
"Disaster Relief Funds Criticized by Extreme Conservatives... But It's to Maintain the System"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] Former Future United Party lawmaker Jeong Byeong-guk pointed out on the 17th that the reason for the crushing defeat in the general election was that “looking back at how the party ended up in this state, ultimately, it was because we failed to break away from hegemonic and factional politics.”

At the Future United Party's first-term lawmakers' meeting 'Myeongbulheojeon Conservative' held at the National Assembly that day, former lawmaker Jeong said, “Why was former President Park Geun-hye impeached?” and added, “It still carries the extreme form of hegemonic and factional politics as it is.”

He said, “There is no president of the Republic of Korea, only presidents of factions. Former President Park not only faced this but also the extreme situation of being called the pro-Park president, the true-Park president, and the Choi Soon-sil president,” adding, “This disrupted the foundation of republicanism. Although I am branded a traitor and insulted, I would act the same way even if such a situation arises again.”

He continued, “During the 20th National Assembly, although the Moon Jae-in administration made many mistakes, we were not prepared to respond accordingly,” and added, “The reason is that we did not properly reflect on or take responsibility for the consequences of the impeachment.”

Regarding the Kim Jong-in emergency committee, former lawmaker Jeong said, “If Kim Jong-in, the emergency committee chairman, works hard and succeeds, will the next party leader come and maintain and lead it as is?” and diagnosed, “From my past political experience, I don't think so.”

He said, “Fundamentally, what makes it impossible to intervene? Without creating a consensus among the members, it is difficult to maintain,” and added, “Without such consensus, the next party convention will likely see a fight over whether to accept this result or not.”

On the 17th, former lawmaker Jeong Byeong-guk is giving a lecture at 'Myeongbulheojeon,' a study group for first-term lawmakers of the United Future Party, held at the National Assembly. Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

Regarding basic income, he said, “Basic income is an agenda that conservatives should preempt,” adding, “In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, as everything is replaced by robots, jobs will be lost. (Market economy) is not sustainable if consumption does not follow production. It should not be approached from a welfare perspective but from an economic perspective.”

He continued, “The so-called hardcore conservatives harshly criticized the disaster relief funds. That is not welfare. Because of COVID-19, the market economy is collapsing; people need something to live on. It is given to maintain the system,” and said, “We should not criticize just because the ruling party did it; we should take the lead and respond flexibly to such matters.”

Former lawmaker Jeong said, “We need to break free from fixed ideas. Conservative values are not fixed,” and added, “Because of this, young people perceive conservatives as a force that dislikes change.”