Choo Mi Ae: "Focusing on Livelihood Instead of Reform? Merely a Ploy to Weaken Reform"

A part of the post by former Minister of Justice Choo Mi Ae. Photo by Facebook Capture

[Asia Economy, reporter Kim Soyoung] Former Minister of Justice Choo Mi Ae has expressed a negative stance on the "calls to slow down reform" within the Democratic Party of Korea.

On May 10, Choo posted on her Facebook page an article titled, "'Reform or livelihood, a binary choice' is merely a fear of reform instilled by vested interests; there is no livelihood without reform," making her position clear.

She argued, "Should we focus on livelihood instead of prosecutorial reform and media reform? This statement is nothing more than a ploy to divide the people and the reformist ruling party by separating livelihood and reform, and to sow discord within the reform camp, ultimately weakening the power of reform. Reform and livelihood are not separate destinations from which one must choose."

She continued, "To suggest slowing down reform is to say we will address livelihood issues slowly. To argue against reform at this time is no different from saying we should give up on livelihood from now on."

She further emphasized, "Only by carrying out reform properly can fairness and justice permeate and take root in people's livelihoods. In particular, the Democratic Party must never forget that it is a political force with the responsibility and duty to act decisively for reform."

She also wrote, "It is a misconception to give up on reform and treat livelihood merely as a centrist strategy. What truly oppresses people's livelihoods are the unfair advantages and privileges entrenched throughout our society."

She pointed out, "In particular, the unfair and irrational social structure in which enormous unearned income from real estate is concentrated in the hands of a tiny minority and realized without consequence."

She added, "Ultimately, the reform pursued by the democratic reform camp must be a process of dismantling, one by one, the privileges of rent-seeking and the chains of inequality that weigh down the livelihoods of ordinary citizens and the middle class."

Choo stated, "Even five years ago, the urgent demands of the candlelight citizens were to eliminate the unfairness and privileges that suffocate people's livelihoods and to resolve inequality and polarization. The fundamental cause of inequality and polarization in our society is that we have fallen into the 'trap of rent-seeking.'"

She went on to say, "If we continue to turn a blind eye to the financial privileges and economic advantages enjoyed by real estate speculators-fiercely defended by the vested interest alliance-then we will not be able to control the disastrous unearned income from real estate, and economic justice will become even more distant."

She continued, "With the value of a young person's life being less than a single square meter of an apartment, what kind of reform or livelihood does the Democratic Party truly want? For a just flow of money and to reform the system that institutionally protects privileges and unfair advantages, the prosecution and the media, which defend these privileges, must be properly reformed. Only then, with strong public support, can we achieve real progress in people's livelihoods."

Choo criticized the division of reform and livelihood, and the slowing down of reform, as "the cunning political tactics of the conservative media and opposition parties." She insisted, "If we truly care about people's livelihoods, we must not stop reform. Even more so, we must not use the pretext of renewal to isolate and derail reform."

Meanwhile, within the Democratic Party, disagreements among party leadership over 'reform' continue. At the first Supreme Council meeting on May 3, Democratic Party leader Song Younggil suggested adjusting the pace of prosecutorial reform, referencing the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO). In contrast, Supreme Council member Kim Yongmin expressed a strong commitment to reform, stating, "We will boldly and swiftly pursue not only prosecutorial reform but also media reform and various livelihood reforms to eradicate real estate speculation. To this end, we will ensure that the Special Committee on Prosecutorial Reform can act quickly."