[Reporter`s View] The Government Party`s Policy which the Department in Charge Does Not Know

``. . . Really? We do not have any idea about that. . .``

Such sentiments are often used by the executive members of the Ministry of Finance and Economy.

In spite of important policies which highly influence the lives of people and the activities of business enterprises, the casual response of the Ministry of Finance and Economy is that `they never heard of that`. Because the Government party had presented an `alternative plans’ without previous notice, a government official of the Ministry of Finance and Economy in charge reciprocates the question `When did it happen?`

When the Democratic Party suddenly declared, on May 3, to execute a ‘flexible application’ of the principle of ‘200% ratio liability’ applied to the large enterprises since 1998 according to government’s reformation policy to business enterprises, the director of the Ministry of Finance and Economy was not aware. In a meeting with the trade industry, the Democratic Party revealed to the public these plans as if to show a sense of generosity. At first, the Ministry of Finance and Economy’s response was that ‘they do not know’. However, later they gave an evasive answer saying that it is ‘the responsibility of the Financial Supervisory Commission’.

Currently, the Democratic Party plays a leading role in forming an additional supplementary budget, even more so than the Ministry of Finance and Economy. The Democratic Party announced to put “about five trillion won of an additional supplementary budget on an special session of the National Assembly.” Using the rhetoric ‘I do not know,’ the government officials of the Ministry of Finance and Economy were busy searching for excuses. When asked for a written explanation, they answered ‘how can we send a written explanation in every case’ and they maintained their position of no acknowledgment. In the end, Jin-Nyum(陳稔), the Minister of Finance and Economy, came to refute the Democratic Party’s assertions in an open meeting with journalists

Furthermore, the policy to cut the transfer income tax, focusing on recovering the condition of the local construction industry, was announced in the meeting of the highest executive of the Democratic Party. To this, the Ministry of Finance and Economy made clear that “the policy to cut transfer income tax have never been decided.”

The policies which did not reach an agreement between the Democratic Party and the government were revealed by the Democratic party. Without considering the possibilities to fully appreciate the integrity of the policy, ‘rash’ announcements have followed one after another. The current Administration that plans and executes policies is assigned to follow up the works of the Government party. If the Democratic Party’s ‘generous policy’ considering next year’s election has already began, who will bear the suffering of the consequences?

Choi Young-Hae moneychoi@donga.com