Lee Jae-myung "It's not good to recklessly open restaurants and fail... Considering a total permit system for eateries"
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited Sinwon Market in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 27th and purchased persimmons at a fruit store. [Image source=Yonhap News]
[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] Jin-in (塵人) Jo Eun-san, who gained attention for writing the 'Seven Proposals for the New Year' criticizing the Moon Jae-in administration's policies, expressed a critical opinion on June 28 regarding Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate's 'restaurant permit quota system.'
On the same day, Jo Eun-san posted an article titled "Article 15 of the Constitution, Freedom of Occupational Choice" on his blog. Regarding candidate Lee, who mentioned the restaurant permit quota system, Jo said, "How beautiful and great is the country you dream of that citizens trying to make a living must seek permission from those in power to earn their livelihood?"
He added, "For your twisted worldview born out of poverty, how many citizens must give up their freedom?" and criticized, "In your words that 'good regulations by a good state are necessary,' I feel endless arrogance and dogmatism, making my nose sting as if I squeezed a whole wasabi into my mouth."
Earlier, candidate Lee said at a meeting with small business owners and self-employed people nationwide held at Sinwon Market in Gwanak-gu, Seoul, "Many restaurants open and close, making it like an antlion pit. I am considering operating a restaurant permit quota system."
He continued, "Although it was said that it infringes on autonomy and thus cannot be done, the quota system itself is not bad. Opening restaurants recklessly and failing is not freedom. Good regulations are necessary," he added.
Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, visited Sinwon Market in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 27th and greeted merchants. [Image source=Yonhap News]
In response, Jo Eun-san said, "There is no freedom to fail in business? That’s crazy talk telling people to get the state's permission even to run a business," and directly attacked, "Give me the authority too. I will implement a nonsense quota system to shut your mouth."
He also referred to Article 15 of the Constitution on freedom of occupational choice, saying, "In an era of lawyers who do not even know Article 15 of the Constitution, and among them, a human rights lawyer who does not understand human rights, I feel the moment of transformation approaching where we move from a world where people live to a world where people are sold, heading toward the great 'Daejang Republic'." This appears to mock the Daejang-dong scandal surrounding candidate Lee.
He continued, "While criminals backed by political power gain billions of won from various interest sites, ordinary people without money or connections have to bow down at the community service center and fill out permit request forms just to try running a business once," adding, "I cannot believe these words came from a presidential candidate of a democratic party that claims to be liberal."
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