Lee Jae-myung "One Million Self-Employed Businesses Closed... Government and Ruling Party, Are You Enjoying Power Games?"

"Pouring 1 Trillion Won into Uncertain Inheritance"
Urging Passage of Bills Including Livelihood Recovery Support Fund

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, emphasized livelihood issues while criticizing the Yoon Seok-yeol administration and the People Power Party for "playing power games."

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, is attending the Supreme Council meeting held at the National Assembly on the 12th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

On the 12th, through the Supreme Council meeting at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, Lee mentioned the delinquency rate of loans for small business owners and self-employed individuals, saying, "If one million self-employed people go out of business, how will their employees and families survive?" He raised his voice, saying, "Why does the state exist?" and "Even at this moment, people are committing suicide at the highest rate in the world. It's because it's hard to make a living."

Lee also criticized the government's official development assistance (ODA) to Africa and deep-sea oil and gas exploration in the East Sea, proposing a livelihood recovery support fund. He said, "They say they will provide 10 billion dollars (about 13.755 trillion won) to Africa, but that money disappears, whereas if local currency is provided, it does not disappear." He added, "Taxes come back, the economy grows, neighborhood commercial districts are revitalized, small self-employed business owners can pay overdue interest and postpone closures." Furthermore, he emphasized, "Isn't it visible that while pouring 500 billion to 1 trillion won into uncertain oil fields, people are going out of business, unable to pay interest, borrowing from card loans or relying on loan sharks, and dying while embracing their families?"

Lee said, "Why do politics exist and why hold power?" and "They throw unnecessary tantrums, and after being given power, they only retaliate and treat the country as if it were their personal property." He continued, "Think about why politics is necessary and how many people are living because they cannot die even at this moment," raising his voice, "They may enjoy playing power games, but countless people are struggling with life and death holding their families' hands."

Lee urged the passage of livelihood-related bills, including the livelihood recovery support fund. He said, "I hope the relevant standing committee will process the livelihood recovery support fund paid in local currency as quickly as possible," and "I also hope the bill for 10-year long-term installment repayment of COVID-19 loans will be processed promptly."