Kwangjae Lee: "Jaemyung Lee's 250,000 Won Support for All Citizens Is Not True... Let's Get Real"

"Let's Avoid All-or-Nothing Politics"
"Policy Without Theory Is Fiction"

Former National Assembly Secretary-General Lee Kwang-jae sharply criticized Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, for his inconsistent stance on the semiconductor industry's exemption from the '52-hour workweek' rule and the nationwide 250,000 KRW payment, urging him to "get a grip and follow the right path."

Former Secretary General of the National Assembly Kwang-jae Lee. Photo by Asia Economy DB

On the 14th, Lee posted on Facebook titled "52-hour workweek and 250,000 KRW, get a grip, follow the right path." This appears to be related to the Democratic Party's announcement of a 35 trillion KRW supplementary budget the previous day, which included the 250,000 KRW per person payment budget?previously declared "abandoned" by Lee Jae-myung?under a different name.

Lee emphasized, "This is a time when support for the common people is necessary," but drew a clear line by stating, "However, it should not be a 250,000 KRW payment to all citizens." He suggested focusing on "supporting low-income groups and stimulating consumption." He added, "With just 1 trillion KRW, we could reduce the interest rate by 1% for 20 million small loan borrowers with loans of 5 million KRW," and stressed, "Now is the time for common-sense realism. Let's avoid all-or-nothing politics."

Regarding the 52-hour workweek system, he said, "Let's take time to adjust it to global standards. A social grand compromise is necessary." He also proposed, "Let's firmly protect workers who need protection. Exclude high-income earners like in advanced countries such as the U.S., Japan, and Germany." He further suggested, "By industry, IT personnel, software, research and development should follow advanced country standards, and we need to study working hours in preparation for the future increase of four-day workweeks, AI (artificial intelligence), and telecommuting."

However, on the necessity of passing the Semiconductor Special Act, which stipulates exceptions to the 52-hour workweek, he strongly insisted, "It must be passed immediately." He criticized, "Water, electricity, manpower, and permits have all been left to private companies, while politicians have only said 'semiconductors are the future' in words," urging that semiconductor-related support measures be passed first.

He also said, "Although there are limitations with the supplementary budget, let's prepare a budget to respond to the Trump administration's tariff policies and the global technology war," and added, "It is also necessary to increase the capital of national policy banks for corporate investment, such as expanding the Industrial Bank of Korea's capital to 10 trillion KRW, linked to the Semiconductor Act, and to expand the Korea Fund of Funds." He emphasized the need to secure budgets that drive economic growth.

Furthermore, he stated, "Policies must be fiercely debated and decided within the party. Once policies are decided, they must be implemented, and if there are reasons for changes, the process must be explained to party members and the public," adding, "Policy without theory is fiction. Politics without policy is politics without a soul. There is a right path in theory and policy. Governments are finite, but the people and the nation are eternal."