Opposition Criticizes President Moon's Policy Speech... "Repeats Blaming Others" "Zero Sincerity"

People Power Party "Full of Solo Run Declarations"
People Party "A Model Case of Self-Praise"

President Moon Jae-in is delivering the 2021 budget address at the National Assembly plenary session on the 28th. Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] On the 28th, the People Power Party and the People Party simultaneously criticized President Moon Jae-in's policy speech explaining next year's budget proposal.

Choi Hyung-doo, the floor spokesperson for the People Power Party, said in a statement that "The president, who returned to the National Assembly after 105 days, boasted of K-quarantine and the rebound in third-quarter growth rate, calling the country strong in crisis, but the policy speech was full of self-praise and a declaration of unilateral action," adding, "The president is not a king. He is merely a representative elected by the people for a single five-year term."

Choi also pointed out, "While presenting a dazzling blueprint such as the Digital New Deal and Green New Deal, which cannot be completed during the president's term, and requesting an astronomical budget of 555.8 trillion won, the public is once again anxious about a tax bomb due to the news of official land price increases," and criticized, "Raising the national debt ratio, which was said to have a 40% limit, to 60%, the single five-year term government is driving in nails even beyond its term, ruining the future of the Republic of Korea prematurely."

Yoon Hee-seok, spokesperson for the People Power Party, said, "Since it was the president's policy speech, I had hoped for sincere positions on current issues and reflections and apologies for policy failures beyond a simple budget explanation," but added, "It fell far short of expectations."

Yoon sharpened his criticism, saying, "The president only emphasized the passage of the three economic laws and the Corruption Investigation Office, pressuring the opposition, but gave no response to the ten issues raised by the People Power Party," and "Regarding the budget proposal, he only repeated incorrect perceptions of reality, his characteristic blaming of others, and pleasant-sounding words."

Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, and other lawmakers are holding a placard that reads "Is this a country!" and shouting slogans at the party meeting held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Ahn Hye-jin, spokesperson for the People Party, said in a statement, "This is a textbook example of self-praise. A speech with zero sincerity," and added, "Seeing the ruling party holding a feast for themselves, I almost shed tears out of sadness for the people and the future of the country."

Ahn criticized, "President Moon's speech may have succeeded in protecting and regrouping certain progressive factions, but it reminded us that dreaming again of a country where the people are the owners, a fair and just country desired by the people, and a nation filled with public officials armed with a sense of duty who are ashamed of lies and willing to dedicate themselves to the country is nothing but a mere fantasy."

Ahn said, "The conclusion is that the president cannot even judge what the people want or worry about," and added, "Just looking at the president's emphasis on the success of quarantine and the economy shows how much the current administration is immersed only in stories they want to hear."