On the 13th, Lee Jae-myeong, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, predicted a cut in the police budget, saying, “We will definitely change the behavior of (the police) who said they were the people’s staff, but then turned into the stick of power and wielded (power) against the people.” The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions (KCTU) and others are putting pressure on the issue of the controversy over the police’s strong suppression of protestors during a rally in downtown Seoul hosted last weekend. In response, the People Power Party criticized, “The Democratic Party has continued to hold outdoor rallies for the purpose of resigning from the government and has begun to use the budget as a weapon to tame the police.”
Representative Lee said at the Supreme Council meeting that day, “(The police) are insensitive to protecting the lives and safety of the people, and we can never forgive their behavior of suppressing the legitimate exercise of sovereignty by force to defend the regime.” He said, “The Democratic Party has been very friendly to the police and has provided policy support, but now it is doing too many things that should not be done to protect power,” and added, “This should be clearly reflected in the budget review process.”
Representative Lee cited the fact that Social Democratic Party leader Han Chang-min suffered a rib fracture during the rally on the 9th as the basis for the police’s excessive crackdown, and argued, “Can something like this happen in the democratic country of the Republic of Korea in the 21st century?”
The Democratic Party plans to closely examine police special activity expenses (special activity expenses), special task expenses (special police expenses), and the National Security Agency budget from the budget review stage of the National Assembly Public Administration and Security Committee.
The People Power Party criticized it as “an intention to discourage the police.” Rep. Cho Eun-hee, secretary of the People Power Party’s Public Administration and Security Committee, said, “The Democratic Party is trying to prevent the police from strictly enforcing the law,” and claimed, “It is an expression of anger over the weekend rally’s failure to end successfully.”
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon also said, “They are trying to turn a blind eye to the fact that 105 police officers were injured in an act of illegal violence, but have begun implicit incitement that seems to want bloodshed.” “He said.
Meanwhile, Representative Lee continued his efforts to improve the people’s livelihood by announcing that he would form an intra-party task force to take charge of the ‘glass wallet improvement project’ to increase the real income of salaried workers. The Democratic Party, led by Rep. Lim Gwang-hyeon, a former deputy director of the National Tax Service, plans to soon introduce policies tailored to salaried earners, such as raising the income tax bracket and strengthening year-end tax settlement benefits
On this day, Representative Lee launched the ‘Diplomacy and Security Unification Advisory Council’ with the participation of former Representative Lee Hae-chan and others, and consulted with the second US Trump administration on five major fields including energy, bio, network communications, artificial intelligence (AI) industry standardization, and K-culture. proposed economic cooperation.
Reporter Dabin Yoon [email protected]
Reporter Kwon Gu-yong [email protected]
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Time.news Interview with Dr. Kim Soo-min: Political Analyst and Expert on Public Policy
Time.news Editor: Good afternoon, Dr. Kim. Thank you for joining us today. After last weekend’s protests in Seoul and the subsequent comments made by Lee Jae-myeong, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, how do you assess the current political climate in South Korea?
Dr. Kim Soo-min: Good afternoon! It’s a pleasure to be here. The political climate in South Korea appears to be increasingly polarized. Lee Jae-myeong’s remarks about cutting the police budget highlight the Democrats’ response to widespread discontent regarding police conduct during protests. This isn’t just about budgetary decisions; it’s about addressing public sentiment that feels the police are overstepping their bounds in a democratic society.
Editor: You mentioned public sentiment. Can you elaborate on the specific concerns regarding police actions during the recent demonstrations?
Dr. Kim: Absolutely. The incident involving Social Democratic Party leader Han Chang-min, who reportedly suffered a rib fracture due to police action, has raised alarm bells. It emphasizes a perceived pattern of excessive force being used against protestors. Lee Jae-myeong pointed out that such occurrences should not happen in a democratic nation in the 21st century, and many citizens share this sentiment, demanding accountability from law enforcement.
Editor: The response from the People Power Party has been quite vociferous as well. They accuse the Democratic Party of using budgetary power to intimidate the police. How do you interpret this back-and-forth?
Dr. Kim: The exchange illustrates the deep-seated tensions between the two major parties in South Korea. The People Power Party is leveraging the injuries sustained by police during protests to argue that the Democratic Party’s stance is undermining law enforcement. This maneuvering serves to rally their base around a narrative of law and order, while the Democrats are trying to reshape public perception of the police as entities serving the people rather than the state.
Editor: Lee Jae-myeong also announced plans for intra-party initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of salaried workers. How do you see this connecting with the current political discourse about police budgets and public protests?
Dr. Kim: The focus on improving the financial situation of workers can be seen as a strategic move to broaden the Democratic Party’s appeal amidst the ongoing controversies. By addressing economic concerns, they are attempting to shift the conversation back to issues more relevant to everyday citizens, like income tax reforms and economic welfare, which might help to offset public outrage directed at police actions.
Editor: It seems that both parties are grappling not only with public protests but also with overarching issues that affect South Korea, such as economic stability and national security. How do you think they can reconcile these divergent focuses?
Dr. Kim: A balanced approach is essential. Both parties need to recognize that addressing citizens’ concerns regarding public safety must coexist with fostering social justice and economic growth. Negotiation and dialogue are key. However, the current climate, rife with accusations and a combative atmosphere, may hinder cooperative policymaking.
Editor: Lastly, with the introduction of new task forces and councils, including the ‘Diplomacy and Security Unification Advisory Council’, what implications do you see for South Korea’s foreign policy direction?
Dr. Kim: The formation of such councils signals an intention to reinforce the linkages between domestic policies and international engagements. With global challenges like energy security and technological advancements coming to the forefront, South Korea is recognizing that domestic stability is crucial for effective diplomatic relations. If both parties can leverage their expertise in a collaborative manner, this could enhance South Korea’s international standing, but that requires a shift away from current adversarial tactics.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Kim, for your insights into the current political scenario in South Korea. Your analysis helps clarify the complexities at play in this ever-evolving situation.
Dr. Kim: Thank you for having me! It’s always important to have these discussions as we navigate such transformative times in politics.