[Lee Jae-myung Interview] "Yoon Seok-yeol, a Past-Oriented 'Knife-Wielding' Specialist... A Shooting Star Without Substance"

"Time to Focus on Livelihood Reforms, Not to Spend Energy on Constitutional Amendments"
"Basic Income, the Answer Is Already Out... Not Cash Welfare but Economic Policy"

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporters Park Cheol-eung and Gu Chae-eun] Lee Jae-myung, Governor of Gyeonggi Province, referred to former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, who currently has the highest likelihood of becoming the opposition candidate in next year’s presidential election, as a "shooting star." This can be understood as a slight twist on former People Power Party emergency committee chairman Kim Jong-in’s remark that Yoon is experiencing a "moment of a star."

In a recent interview with Asia Economy at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office, Lee said, "Hasn’t the so-called third force or third candidate appeared like a comet and then disappeared like a shooting star? If the content is not substantial, the phenomenon of returning to the original position repeats." Regarding the discussion on the parole of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, he said, "I think there is a certain rationality." Of course, this was based on the general premise that "everyone should be equal before the law."

◆ "Yoon, succeed in accelerated private tutoring and compete with substance" = Lee and Yoon are leading the polls as the top candidates for the ruling and opposition parties. Surveys comparing the two show mixed results, but many indicate Yoon is ahead. When asked about Yoon’s "political potential," Lee wrapped his response in expectations and respect but filled it with criticism and skepticism. "Disappointment with established politics has manifested as a craving for newness, a new product. But newness eventually becomes old. Ultimately, the substance is what matters."

Lee defined, "Yoon’s fairness is backward-looking, while Lee Jae-myung’s fairness is forward-looking." He pointed out Yoon’s lack of experience beyond his career as a prosecutor. Lee evaluated, "If I have created a fair system that allows more people to enjoy more benefits, Yoon has been good at wielding the sword to punish those who broke the law in the past, but that is only a very small part of many functions in our society."

This expresses confidence in his comparative advantage in experience, having been a lawyer, civic activist, mayor of Seongnam City, and now governor of Gyeonggi Province. Lee said, "Politics requires philosophy and values to find new paths and set directions. It also requires courage and decisiveness to take risks and overcome fear." He seemed to be questioning whether Yoon possesses such virtues. He added, "He (Yoon) has been studying hard with accelerated short-term private tutoring, and I hope he succeeds. That would be good for the people. I truly hope the opposition does well."

◆ "Chaebols should not be discriminated against... Constitutional amendment before the presidential election is difficult" = Presidential candidates often bring up the issue of constitutional amendment to attract public attention and shake up the political landscape. The rationale is that it is difficult to secure the momentum to succeed in constitutional amendment unless there is a regime change. Usually, the leading candidate closest to the "moment of a star" tends to take a cautious stance. Lee is no exception. He said, "It is time to focus on livelihood reforms. It is not a situation where energy should be poured into constitutional amendment. I believe the current constitutional provisions on the concept of land ownership are sufficient. I am a pragmatist."

Regarding the pardon issue of Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, he emphasized principles. "Because he is Lee Jae-yong, because he is a chaebol, he should not be exempted from punishment or given special favors. However, the same principle applies that chaebols should not be excluded either. Everyone must be equal before the law." Nevertheless, Lee mentioned, "I think there is a certain rationality in considering parole." Parole is a system open to everyone, so there should be no reverse discrimination. Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, also recently said in a media interview that Lee Jae-yong could be released not only by pardon but also by parole.

Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung. / Photo by Dongju Yoon doso7@

◆ "The taxes I pay become basic income" ... "It can gain consensus" = His flagship policy brand is the basic income series. It is a target of criticism from both ruling and opposition parties. He said, "The answer is simple and already out there." Lee explained, "Basic income is not cash welfare but an economic policy. It is about giving it twice a year, like the first support payment last year. Two million won per year for a family of four is by no means a small amount." Lee proposes a plan to pay 500,000 won per person annually without tax increases, only by budget cuts. In the medium term, he says it can be increased to 1 million won annually by reducing tax exemptions. Furthermore, he aims to establish purpose taxes such as carbon tax, data tax, and robot tax to pay 500,000 won per person monthly as a long-term goal.

"Carbon emitted during corporate production activities threatens public health, and robots replacing human labor accelerate job losses. Also, companies generate huge profits by utilizing various data created by the people. Taxing companies that create added value at the expense of the people with carbon tax, robot tax, and data tax is a natural application of the beneficiary pays principle." Lee added, "If basic income is paid to all citizens in the form of a purpose tax, people will feel that 'the taxes they paid come back to them,' and then social consensus can be sufficiently achieved."