"Public Servant Pension Reform Described as an 'Improper Strategy'"
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Cho Won-jin, leader of the Our Republican Party, strongly criticized Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party, calling him a "foolish thug." This was in response to Lee's evaluation of former President Park Geun-hye, saying she "stubbornly carried out unpopular policies to keep promises."
On the 24th, Cho issued a press release stating, "Even in the United States, Lee, who belittles and disparages President Park Geun-hye's achievements to justify the illegal impeachment, is nothing but a foolish thug."
He continued, "In the era of aging, Lee made an unforgivable reckless remark by disparaging the pension reform, which was successfully completed to stabilize the worsening public servant pension finances caused by the rapidly increasing pension recipients and to reduce the burden on future generations, as an 'improper strategy,' despite his youth."
Cho claimed, "The public servant pension reform was the first social grand compromise achieved after 124 days of discussions among the ruling and opposition parties, public servant organizations, experts, civic groups, and government departments," adding, "It reduced the total financial burden by 333 trillion won over 70 years and cut the reserve fund by 497 trillion won."
He emphasized, "Lee must immediately stop distorting and fabricating the achievements of the public servant pension reform, which saved tens of trillions of won in finances, and apologize."
Currently visiting the United States, Lee mentioned former President Park at a Korean student meeting held at George Washington University in Washington DC on the 23rd (local time).
On that day, when asked, "How can you keep promises made to the people?" Lee said, "In fact, if the Park Geun-hye administration had tried to govern more populistically, there were several things they should not have done," citing public servant pension reform and cigarette tax increases as examples.
Lee stated, "The public servant pension reform was not a proper strategy as a ruling strategy, and the cigarette tax was also a policy that should not have been implemented to regain power," but added, "It is also true that these saved tens of trillions of won in finances."
He explained, "There are various interpretations of Park's impeachment. Some say it was due to the state affairs manipulation scandal, but there is also an analysis that this was merely a trigger," and "Regarding the Korea-Japan comfort women agreement, politically, it was the ruling party's responsibility, and as a result, the regime's popularity declined."
Lee claimed, "Looking back at President Park now, I am sorry to say this, but she stubbornly thought she had to carry out unpopular policies to keep promises, and there were many such cases."
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