Assemblyman Yoon, Expert in Income, Welfare, and Finance... "A Remarkable Figure"
[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Sehee] Yoon Hee-sook, a member of the Future United Party, became a hot topic on the 30th of last month with a 5-minute speech at the National Assembly plenary session that began with "I am a tenant." The video of her 5-minute free speech at the plenary session surpassed 50,000 views on Facebook alone, with 757 shares. She calmly pointed out the problems of the Housing Lease Protection Act and presented alternatives, showcasing her expertise as a policy expert.
Yoon, a former research fellow at the Korea Development Institute (KDI), has conducted research for nearly 10 years in various fields such as labor, income, and welfare. In addition, she has demonstrated her capabilities in various areas by serving as a professor at the KDI Graduate School of International Policy, an advisor to the Presidential National Economic Advisory Council, a member of the Minimum Wage Commission, and a member of the Ministry of Education's Regulatory Reform Committee.
A KDI official said in a phone interview with Asia Economy on the 3rd, "She is someone who has accumulated research experience in various fields such as labor, finance, income, welfare, and the middle class," adding, "She is one of the few female PhDs who have been promoted to department head." In particular, she is evaluated as a specialist in finance and welfare, having served as the head of the KDI Fiscal Welfare Policy Research Department.
In fact, in a 2016 research report titled "Measures to Enhance Fiscal Soundness through Strengthening Fiscal Accountability," Yoon mentioned the term fiscal accountability and criticized the budget formulation process. She stated, "The structure deviates from optimal decision-making as it passes through the influence structure of stakeholders such as bureaucrats and the private sector in the policy planning, budget formulation, and execution processes in each field." She also added, "There is a need for an effective mechanism to transparently disclose whether the allocation decisions of national finances are following the optimal path and to hold accountability if they are not."
At KDI, Yoon is called a "policy expert and excellent lecturer." Having experience in various fields such as labor, income, and finance, she quickly understands work and is known for her excellent speaking skills, making her popular in KDI's policy process lectures for journalists. An employee who worked with her at KDI said, "She always believed that criticism of government policies should be backed by logic and must present alternatives."
Before being elected, Yoon published a book titled "Betrayal of Policy," and since then, she has continuously demonstrated her true nature as a policy expert by presiding over standing committee meetings and expert roundtables in the labor field. On the 7th, she personally hosted a forum at the National Assembly Members' Office Building titled "The Incheon International Airport Incident, the Truth Behind Unfairness," addressing issues between non-regular and regular workers.
Going forward, Yoon is expected to play a prominent role in the "Planning and Finance Committee," which audits macroeconomic institutions such as the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Bank of Korea. On the 28th of last month, when the Comprehensive Real Estate Tax Act, Income Tax Act, and Corporate Tax Act were passed in the Planning and Finance Committee, Yoon said, "The content, which was passed without proper review and with the Democratic Party exchanging friendly words with the government, will directly become a burden on the people."
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