Democratic Party head Rep. Lee Jae-myung 'threat to alliance with US'
Rep. Kweon Seong-dong, the ruling People Power Party's floor leader, on Tuesday apologized for President Yoon Suk Yeol's martial law declaration on Dec. 3 last year and the ensuing fallout.
"The People Power Party, as the ruling party, apologizes and accepts responsibility for the crisis following the Dec. 3 declaration of martial law and the president's arrest and indictment," Kweon said in an address to the National Assembly.
The People Power Party floor leader said Democratic Party of Korea chief Rep. Lee Jae-myung was contributing to the turmoil by threatening to impeach acting President and Deputy Prime Minister Choi Sang-mok after already impeaching Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who was acting president for less than two weeks before Choi.
“The political turmoil we are experiencing now is being instigated by Lee Jae-myung and his cronies in the Democratic Party,” Kweon said.
Kweon condemned the Democratic Party for passing a series of impeachment motions in the 2 1/2 years since Yoon was inaugurated, accusing the party of "legislative violence" and a "dictatorship in the legislature."
The Democratic Party of Korea has introduced 29 impeachment resolutions against Yoon's Cabinet members and other senior government officials since the president took office in May 2022. Before Yoon, there had been 21 impeachment resolutions in the 74 years following the South Korean government's establishment in 1948, Kweon said.
Kweon suggested revising the Constitution to reshape the parliamentary and executive structures to even out the power dynamics.
The People Power Party floor leader slammed Lee's brand of social security and economic policies -- known as the "basic income society" -- as "radically populist." In his own address Monday, Lee floated terms such as "universal growth," "redistribution" and "basic income" to describe his idea of a welfare society.
"Lee's extreme approach to economy peaked when he proposed handing out 1 million won ($690 today) to 28 million people as 'basic income' while he was mayor of Seongnam," Kweon said. Lee was mayor of the city in Gyeonggi Province from 2010-2018.
On the Democratic Party leader pushing for a four-day workweek as his main labor policy, Kweon said reducing the standard workweek across the board would hinder the competitiveness of certain sectors such as research and development.
Kweon instead called for allowing exemptions from the legally set maximum of 52 hours per week to allow chipmakers and other industries stay competitive in the global market.
On Lee pledging to help grow "more global brands like Samsung," Kweon pointed out the Democratic Party leader previously campaigned on breaking up big corporations.
"Lee is throwing out one populist policy after another depending on his political standing at the time, if it means he could advance his political aspirations," Kweon said.
South Korea has been able to make progress in Yoon's presidency, Kweon emphasized.
Kweon cited cost-of-living and housing price stability as among the achievements under Yoon. South Korea has overtaken Japan and Taiwan in per capita gross domestic product in that time, he said, exceeding $36,000.
With Yoon in office, South Korea's trilateral cooperation with the US and Japan has been strengthened, restoring ties that were weakened under the administration of previous Democratic Party President Moon Jae-in, Kweon said.
Lee taking power would be a "threat" to South Korea's alliance with the US, Kweon said. Kweon highlighted some of Lee's past remarks about Seoul-Washington relations, including one instance when he referred to US troops in South Korea as "occupation forces," demanding they withdraw from the country.
"In the streets, rallies organized by left-wing groups aligned with the Democratic Party are still calling for US troops to leave the country," Kweon said. "I doubt if there is any sincerity in Lee's sudden embrace of the US alliance."
Kweon said that the People Power Party was committed to defending liberal democratic order and the alliance with the US.
Kweon has been a representative in the National Assembly for five consecutive terms, one of which he won as an independent candidate.
arin@heraldcorp.com
