Lee Jae-myung "The Party Moves at My Pace... The Ministry of Economy and Finance Will Never Be Caught"

Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung is answering questions from reporters after concluding a National Banquet Meeting with farmers of Gangjin at Anpung Village Hall in Gundo-myeon, Gangjin-gun, Jeollanam-do on the 27th. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Dong-hoon] Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, visited Honam on the 27th and said, "The party has changed a lot at my pace, but the Ministry of Economy and Finance refuses to be controlled no matter what."

At an agricultural meeting held in Gangjin, Jeollanam-do, Lee said, "Minister Hong Nam-ki and people like him, please listen to me. Please," adding, "When the people entrust authority to public officials, it is to use that authority to do what is necessary. So why don't they use it? They should use it to the maximum."

This is interpreted as expressing dissatisfaction with the Ministry of Economy and Finance's persistent negative stance on the nationwide disaster relief fund promoted by Lee. He said, "If there is no agriculture, it will be a big problem. Food security issues will inevitably arise later," proposing the introduction of a basic income for rural areas and the expansion of farm household allowances.

He also mentioned the 'Daejang-dong development project,' emphasizing, "The unearned income generated by exercising state power should be shared by all the people, so why should specific individuals take it all?" and added, "We can live really well if we just avoid wasting taxes."

After the meeting, Lee met with reporters and spoke about contact with former party leader Lee Nak-yeon, saying, "I did call him. I just told him that I was going to the Jeonnam and Gwangju area," and "(Former leader Lee) said he already had a scheduled appointment."

He explained, "This schedule was recently set, so we couldn't adjust it in advance, but there will be plenty of opportunities to do it together next time."