"Double Standards and Amateur Activist Politics, Truly a Great Disaster"
President Moon Jae-in is speaking at the National Fiscal Strategy Meeting held at the Blue House on the afternoon of the 27th of last month. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] A self-employed business owner strongly criticized the government's income-led growth policy, saying, "The Moon Jae-in administration's economic policy is simply problematic! Ignorant! Incompetent! Reckless!"
Bae Hooncheon, who runs a coffee business in Unam-dong, Gwangju, stated at the 'Moon Jae-in Administration's Economic Policy and the Reality of Honam' public debate held on the 12th at the Gwangju April 19 Revolution Memorial Hall's Unification Hall, "Gwangju is small and rumors spread fast, so it was not easy for a local businessperson to reveal their business name and personal name," but added, "I gathered the courage because I thought it would be beneficial for the future of our children living in the Republic of Korea to hear from a local's perspective about the Moon Jae-in government's policies that have forced us to live in darkness under the dim moonlight, especially in Gwangju, which is a support base for this government."
Regarding the minimum wage increase issue, Bae said, "Do you know what happened after the minimum wage was raised by 34.8%?" He continued, "Generally, we don't hire part-timers. Even if we do, we only hire part-timers with experience for less than 15 hours. If the economy had grown and business was good, the sharp increase in the minimum wage might have been a minor shock, but the Moon Jae-in administration was far from economic growth from the start."
He added, "Jobs that used to be ignored because the working hours were too short are now filled within a day after posting an advertisement. So many calls come in that it interferes with business," and criticized, "Those living in the clouds of Gangnam have instantly destroyed the ecosystem of self-employed people and ordinary citizens living together like carp, frogs, and crayfish in the streams."
President Moon Jae-in is presiding over a Cabinet meeting at the Blue House on the morning of the 8th./Photo by Yonhap News
Bae asked, "Since the Moon Jae-in government came in, have you seen any increase in jobs other than public officials, delivery riders, and senior citizen jobs?" He pointed out, "Young people are all holed up in study rooms, so at least the older generation should increase consumption, but this ignorant administration forcibly implemented the 52-hour workweek." He strongly condemned, "For us self-employed, the Moon Jae-in administration is truly a disaster. A great disaster."
He said, "They drastically raised the minimum wage to protect low-wage workers, wiping out even the low-wage jobs that existed. They implemented the Instructor Act to protect part-time lecturers' rights, which eliminated part-time lecturer jobs. They enforced the Lease Protection Act to strengthen tenants' rights, causing a jeonse (long-term deposit lease) crisis. They issued excessive regulations and measures to control housing prices, which instead caused housing prices to skyrocket, pushing ordinary citizens and people in rural areas into sudden poverty," and raised his voice, "We must judge the Moon Jae-in administration, which took power with superficially flashy policies like a wolf in sheep's clothing but actually plunged small business owners and ordinary people into misery."
He emphasized, "Even after securing 180 seats, all they know how to do is dwell on the past and engage in commemorative day politics. We must no longer be swayed by these hypocritical, fake activist political thugs."
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