Won Hee-ryong "Promoting Silver House Pension"... Ha Tae-kyung "Civilianization of Military Administration"

Competition of Pledges Among People Power Party Presidential Pre-Candidates

People Power Party presidential primary candidate Won Hee-ryong announced the third phase of the National Housing Chance, "Measures for Single-Person Households and Housing Vulnerable Groups," a presidential campaign pledge, on the 24th at the National Assembly Communication Office in Yeouido, Seoul. (Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] As the heat of the People Power Party's presidential primary intensifies, each candidate's pledges are gradually taking more concrete forms. Former Jeju Governor Won Heeryong is focusing on real estate by releasing up to the third phase of the 'Housing National Chance' plan, while Representative Ha Taekyung has announced up to the 10th pledge.

On the morning of the 24th, former Governor Won held a press conference at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, to announce the 'Pledge for Single-Person Households and Housing-Vulnerable Groups' measures, stating, "We will promote the 'Silver House Space Pension Project' for stable housing in old age." This project involves the National Pension Service purchasing land in the 3rd New Town at below development cost and providing housing instead of pension benefits to elderly households without homes who wish to participate. It will be piloted in the 3rd New Town and expanded nationwide depending on the results.

Former Governor Won explained, "Elderly households can enjoy a stable old age in a comfortable environment with National Pension benefits that are less than monthly rent, and the National Pension can replace pensions with housing services, thereby enhancing the sustainability of the pension system."

Youth aged 19 to 39 in the second income quintile or below will be offered low-interest loans of up to 150 million KRW for jeonse (lump-sum deposit lease) or monthly rent deposits. For newlyweds, a bigger pledge was presented. Newlywed couples will be provided with a basic interest-free loan of 200 million KRW, and if they have children, they can receive an additional 50 million KRW per child for up to two children, allowing a maximum interest-free loan of 300 million KRW.

Representative Ha proposed 'Civilianization of Military Administration' as his 10th presidential pledge. He views the root cause of military corruption as the 'clique culture among military personnel' and plans to appoint a civilian administrative innovation expert as the Minister of National Defense.

Representative Ha emphasized, "To reform the closed military administration, the Minister of National Defense must be someone free from the complex internal interests within the military," adding, "Only then can the gap between the mindset inside the barracks and the outside world be narrowed." This reflects his determination to eradicate the military's culture of concealment, including secondary victimization in sexual harassment and collective bullying. Alongside this, there are plans to expand civilian experts' participation in non-combat military administration areas such as personnel and legal affairs.

However, he drew a line by stating that 'complete exclusion of military personnel' is not intended. Representative Ha said, "If the reform proceeds well and military administration innovation gets on track, then, like in the United States, civilians and military personnel can alternate as ministers."

People Power Party presidential primary candidate Ha Tae-kyung is announcing his presidential campaign pledge related to the civilianization of military administration at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 24th. (Photo by Yonhap News)