Opposition Party Is to Separate Health Insurance Budget

The Grand National Party decided to annul the joint budget plan of the local and employed medical insurance, which will be implemented from Jan. 1st 2002, and will revise the related law at the general session of the National Assembly.

Consequently, in the process of the legislation of the revised health insurance bill prepared by GNP, the ruling and the opposition parties are expected to clash against.

GNP decided the separation of the medical insurance budget as a party`s opinion at the presidential meeting of the party, arguing that ``it is not appropriate to introduce the joint budget system while income of the self-employed is not clearly revealed and the unified imposition of the insurance premium is virtually impossible.``

Spokesperson Kwon Chul-Hyun commented, ``separation of the insurance budget is appropriate until the incomes of the self-employed are fully acknowledged, only 26 percent of their income is detected by now, and the reasonable imposition of the insurance premium become possible.``

24 lawmakers of GNP including Rep. Shim Jae-Chul submitted the revised health insurance bill that focuses on the budget separation to the National Assembly.

In Response, Rep. Lee Mee-Kyung of NMDP, chairperson of Policy Coordination Committee 3, criticized, ``the ruling and opposition parties agreed to move forward the unification of the health insurance budget together in 1999. GNP must provide a practical measure to manage the health insurance budget rather than opposing with no reason.``

Meanwhile, the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly are composed of 8 lawmakers of GNP including chairperson, 6 lawmakers of NMDP, and 1 independent congressperson.

GNP revealed its party`s opinion concerning the retirement age of teacher, ``GNP`s opinion is to restore the original retirement age of 65 from current 62. But if it is difficult in reality, for the first stage, we will support the position of United Liberal Democrats to extend the age to 63. When our party takes the power, we will restore it to 65.``

In terms of the Inter-Korean Cooperation Fund, GNP will resume the negotiation with ULD to increase the transparency of the fund management by making the budget to be reviewed and approved by the National Assembly.

jyw11@donga.com