[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Hyun-joo] Criticism continued from the opposition regarding the 'total restaurant permit system' mentioned by Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate.
On the 28th, Yoo Seung-min, a former lawmaker and presidential candidate from the People Power Party, wrote on his Facebook, "I thought it was a statement from Kim Yo-jong of North Korea," and criticized it as "a crude idea that directly reflects the candidate's level."
Former lawmaker Yoo emphasized that "equal freedom is fairness," saying, "Restaurants, cafes, tteokbokki shops, and hof bars are businesses that any citizen can freely start and stop at any time." He also described the candidate as someone whose understanding of a free and fair market economy is below elementary school level. He added, "Instead of talking about a total restaurant permit system, it is time for our constitution to guarantee retroactive compensation for the losses suffered by self-employed small business owners due to COVID-19 business restrictions."
Former Jeju Governor Won Hee-ryong pointedly suggested starting with Lee Jae-myung's 'nonsense total permit system.' Former Governor Won said, "A total restaurant permit system at a meeting with small business owners and self-employed people is a 'reckless remark machine' that disregards time and place," and called it "a statement that raises doubts about the candidate's ideology." He added, "The total restaurant permit system will lead to direct control over many aspects closely related to people's lives," and said, "He must immediately apologize for the attempt to deprive the people's freedom with this statement."
Hong Joon-pyo, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, also mentioned that the total restaurant permit system is an unconstitutional idea that fundamentally infringes on the constitutional freedom to conduct business, pointing out that "it is nothing more than outdated bureaucratic administration to protect vested interests." Lawmaker Hong defined it as "an anti-constitutional act that, while shouting for equal opportunity, fundamentally deprives new participation opportunities" and "an expression of Lee Jae-myung-style populist hate politics."
Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl reacted against the candidate's attempt to explain the total restaurant permit system by comparing the people to moths drawn to a flame. Former Prosecutor General Yoon pointed out, "This wealthy person's view of the people resembles that of former Minister Cho Kuk, who likened the people to 'gabunggae' (crayfish, crucian carp, frog)." He added, "He compared the people struggling to make a living on the front lines of their livelihoods to moths drawn to a flame," and said, "Just as deregulation is not a cure-all, regulation is not a cure-all either, and this must be understood."
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