Government Withdrawal Direct Debate Next Candidates Battleground
Han "Must Be Precise If Choice Is Limited"
Han Dong-hoon, former Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, criticized Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon's remarks on the government's overseas direct purchase regulation debate on the 21st, saying, "There will not be many who agree with treating constructive opinions in a liberal democratic society as 'conduct' issues."
Following former lawmaker Yoo Seung-min, former Chairman Han, and elected member Na Kyung-won expressing their positions on the matter, the next party leadership contenders within the ruling party engaged in a fierce contest, and former Chairman Han sharpened his criticism toward Mayor Oh, who had criticized him.
Former Chairman Han pointed out on Facebook that day, "The Seoul Mayor said my opinion was a wrong 'conduct'."
Earlier, former lawmaker Han criticized the government's announcement banning direct purchases of about 80 KC non-certified products as "excessive regulation." Former lawmaker Yoo also described it as "burning down the whole house to catch a flea," and elected member Na called it a "hasty implementation."
Mayor Oh, through Facebook the day before, indirectly criticized ruling party figures by saying, "Safety and corporate protection are values that cannot be abandoned even considering some inconvenience to direct purchase users, and pointing out that the entire policy has major problems is disappointing as 'conduct' from a senior ruling party member."
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon and Minister of Justice Han Dong-hoon are applauding at the Seoul Metropolitan Government-Ministry of Justice Crime Victim One-Stop Solution Center business agreement ceremony held on the 15th at the Seoul Women’s Plaza in Dongjak-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@
In political circles, although Mayor Oh did not mention specific individuals, it is interpreted that he criticized the remarks of former Chairman Han, former lawmaker Yoo, and elected member Na. Former lawmaker Yoo criticized Mayor Oh's Facebook post, saying, "Mayor Oh's logic that consumers must continue to suffer to protect domestic companies is an outdated idea only heard in the developmental era."
Former Chairman Han also told Mayor Oh that day, "If it is absolutely necessary for the public good, the citizens' right to choose can be restricted, but when it is inevitably restricted, it must be done within the minimum scope, be precise, and be sufficiently explained," he questioned, "Just because the direction is right does not make it a good policy, and even good intentions can lead to bad outcomes."
Furthermore, he said, "There are many such cases. So I am saying we should be more precise. I think the issue of restricting driver's licenses for elderly citizens reported today is the same," referring to the government's policy to consider issuing 'conditional driver's licenses' to high-risk individuals as part of comprehensive measures to reduce traffic accident fatalities.
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