Lee Jae-myung Seeks Practical Exercise of Enforcement Rights Using Dispositive Laws
Explores Practical Measures Through Legislation Such as Credit Pardons and Support for Ordinary Citizens
Urges Government Fiscal Policy Shift to 'Expansionary Fiscal Policy'
Lee Jae-myung of the Democratic Party of Korea announced on the 17th his intention to actively utilize legislative power to directly address livelihood issues. He plans to use ‘dispositive laws’ that grant the opposition automatic enforcement power, overcoming the limitation of lacking executive authority. He also emphasized the need to shift fiscal policy toward expansionary fiscal policy.
At an emergency economic situation briefing held by the Democratic Party’s Livelihood Economic Crisis Countermeasures Committee at the National Assembly that afternoon, Lee said, "It is frustrating that the government holds executive authority while the National Assembly basically performs oversight and legislative functions, so it usually only urges from a third-party standpoint. It would be good if the National Assembly could discover things it can directly do," adding, "I hope we can take the maximum practical measures possible through dispositive laws."
Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is speaking at the emergency economic situation review meeting held at the National Assembly on the 17th. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@
He said, "The government should immediately carry out credit pardons and such, but since they are not doing so, it seems we need to do it through legislation," and added, "It would be good to institutionalize certain measures obligatorily or create legislation at the National Assembly level that can be implemented." Lee also said, "From the perspective of the majority party in the National Assembly, it would be good if the government accepted the opposition’s proposals, but this government seems indifferent and shows no intention to do so in the future. Even through dispositive laws, it would be good to take practical measures."
Dispositive laws refer to laws that directly create specific and individual rights or obligations for the people without intermediate mediation, such as executive enforcement by the administration or judicial rulings. These are concrete measures with automatic enforcement power, but there is criticism that legislation may infringe on administrative functions and violate the separation of powers.
Lee also stressed the necessity of expansionary fiscal policy. He pointed out, "As private households and businesses worsen, the government tightening its belt is a regressive and backward policy," and criticized, "It seems the government, including President Yoon Seok-youl, holds this mistaken view." He criticized the current wealthy tax cuts, saying, "At a time when the economy is bad and the government’s role should be expanded, instead of increasing the burden, they cut taxes for the wealthy, reducing fiscal capacity," and added, "By reducing spending accordingly, they are causing a harmful negative balance that damages the economy."
Democratic Party lawmakers emphasized the need for expansionary fiscal policy that day. Kim Tae-nyeon, chairman of the Livelihood Economic Crisis Countermeasures Committee, said, "Tax cut policies should be withdrawn in consideration of the general election," and added, "Taxes on financially capable companies and high-income groups should be restored." He continued, "Only then can we prepare policy measures to overcome domestic demand stagnation," and said, "We need to stimulate domestic demand and increase jobs related to healthcare, education, and public health to address elderly poverty in preparation for an aging society."
Yoo Dong-soo, Democratic Party’s deputy floor leader for policy, also said, "The policy of tax cuts for the wealthy is wrong," and added, "President Yoon’s wealthy tax cuts should be abolished, and tax revenue secured to actively support vulnerable groups."
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