Lee emphasizes 'Basic Social Theory' in first negotiation group leader speech for Democratic Party
Ruling party criticizes as "populist confession, only ideals without funding measures"
Opposition says "Content found in People Power Party platform and Park Geun-hye's pledges... a clean own goal"
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is delivering a negotiation group representative speech at the plenary session held at the National Assembly on the 28th. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@
[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Yunjin Kim] Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, brought up his signature pledge, 'basic income,' again during the negotiation group leader's speech. While he appeared to step back from the discussion of universal basic income, criticism poured in from the ruling party, calling it "unrealistic populism" and demanding that Lee resolve his judicial risks first.
On the morning of the 28th, Lee delivered his first negotiation group leader's speech at the National Assembly plenary session, presenting 'basic society' as the core value of the Democratic Party. This policy direction suggests that the state should take responsibility for the future of its citizens not only in income but also in housing, welfare, and all other areas. Lee emphasized, "It is time to prepare for 30 years of basic society, beyond 30 years of industrialization and 30 years of democratization," adding, "We must change the social system so that the basic life of all citizens is guaranteed in every area."
In particular, Lee sought cooperation from the ruling party on the basic income discussion, stating, "Basic income is also specified in Article 1, Clause 1 of the People Power Party's platform and policies." He explained that former President Park Geun-hye's 'elderly basic income' pledge and President Yoon's plan to introduce 'parental allowance' are extensions of basic income, urging, "People Power Party, please put your heads together. There is no ruling or opposition, no progressive or conservative in front of a better life and a better future."
Lee has been concretizing basic income as his signature pledge, starting with the 'Youth Dividend' implemented during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam. However, during the last presidential primary, when he proposed 'annual basic income of 1 million won during the presidential term' as a key pledge, he faced criticism not only from the opposition People Power Party but also from within his own party, forcing him to retreat on the pledge. In the Democratic Party's platform revision process last month, basic income was not included due to opposition from more than half of the lawmakers.
The resurgence of the basic society theory in this negotiation group leader's speech is interpreted as an intention to clarify the Democratic Party's identity by expanding from the basic income that represents 'Lee Jae-myung's policy.' However, seemingly conscious of public backlash, the speech highlighted partial basic income discussions rather than universal basic income for all citizens. Lee mentioned cases such as Cheongsan-myeon in Yeoncheon-gun, Gyeonggi-do, where a rural basic income project is underway, and the 'Sunlight Pension' in Sinan-gun, Jeollanam-do, which shares dividends from solar power profits, evaluating that basic income could help alleviate local extinction.
However, immediately after the speech, the ruling party fiercely criticized the basic society theory as an unrealistic pledge. Joo Ho-young, floor leader of the People Power Party, told reporters after the plenary session, "There is no such thing as a free lunch in the world, but (Lee) said too many idealistic things. If that were to happen, it would be a utopia." Assemblyman Ahn Cheol-soo posted on his Facebook, "The 'basic society' theory without a funding plan is fiction," and criticized, "A responsible politician who only talks about ideals while ignoring reality is confessing to being a populist."
They also evaluated the basic society theory as 'hypocrisy' and criticized the Democratic Party's government offensive and Lee's judicial risks. Assemblyman Yoon Sang-hyun directly attacked, "How can a basic society debate be possible in a political culture that exploits a president's verbal slip during an overseas trip for partisan gain?" Assemblyman Kwon Seong-dong targeted Lee's investigation by the prosecution and police, saying, "Before talking about 'basic society,' answer the 'basic suspicions' first."
The Democratic Party responded to the People Power Party's criticism of the basic society theory as a "clean own goal." Senior spokesperson Ahn Ho-young cited the People Power Party's platform and policies mentioning individual "basic income" and former President Park's elderly basic pension pledge, retorting, "Isn't the People Power Party the original populist party?" He added, "People Power Party should stop self-defeating criticism and present better alternatives if they have any," reiterating the determination to concretize the basic society theory.
In the party leader town hall meeting held at the Jeju Convention Center that afternoon, Lee rebutted, "I was criticized, 'Where would the money come from to make that possible?' Politics is about presenting a vision for the future that must be done someday, even if it cannot be done right now." He then admonished, "Please read once the Party Platform and Policies Article 1, Clause 1, which they regard as sacred, and think about what politics should really do."
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