[Editorial] With “Misery Index” Hitting a Record High, Political Clash in November is Anticipated

Korea’s “Misery index” reached 8.3, hitting a 38-month high. Since the index is compiled by calculating consumer price gains and unemployment, it is not surprising to hear the news. Thanks to weakening domestic demand and poor investment, Korean people have been suffering from even worse difficulties.

However, it appears that the ruling camp only focuses on “reform legislation” projects. Party floor leader Chun Jung-bae announced that the National Security Law, Past Injustices Investigation Law, media-related acts, and Private Schools Law would be revised by this coming November at the latest. To that end, he also unveiled a detailed schedule showing that the ruling party will decide on a party platform by October 17 and present revised bills before the National Assembly by October 20. However, I wonder if reform legislation is the only project the government will have to push ahead with. I doubt that when they finish their reform legislation projects it will ease people’s economic difficulties.

I do not agree with the deadline, either. The reason that the ruling party set this by November is that if the projects are not completed by that time, such new priority as the new year’s budget will come up in December, delaying the passage of the revision bills. Also, some cases of the ruling party’s lawmakers are still on trial for their violation of election laws, which brings another concern to their party on whether it will remain as the majority in the National Assembly.

There have been some rumors on a possible “clash between ruling and opposition parties in November” in the political circle. It looks inevitable that the two sides will clash on “reform legislation.” Ignoring pending issues on economic worries among people, the ruling party, which is lingering on past history and ideological issues, will waste time and effort in the end. Since the clash in political circle will make people take sides depending on the issues, I cannot help but worry how much impact it would bring.

The ruling party should reconsider the situation in order to prevent the worst. A survey regarding people’s consciousness on the Uri Party, conducted by the party itself, revealed that those surveyed found “the government and the ruling party only concentrated on matters unrelated to the economy and ignored the grassroots economic agony.” The ruling party should guide people to a better way to happy and secured lives rather than putting the entire nation into division and discord by pushing through “reform legislation” projects.