[Editorial] Representative Chun Jung-bae’s Understanding of the Reality is Problematic

Uri Party’s floor leader Chun Jung-bae’s speech before the National Assembly yesterday once again revealed the lack of understanding of the reality that the leaders of the party in power have. The contents were distant from the public sentiment, and there were quite a few points that deviated with the rule of law. The prescription for the disturbed economy also is void of a proper direction.

Representative Chun reiterated the policy of passing the so-called “four bills,” including the abolition of the National Security Law and the amendment of the treason provision in criminal law, during the National Assembly’s regular session. What is the Uri Party trying to accomplish by unilaterally pushing for bills which face fierce repulsion from the public sentiment and the opposition parties and are open to violation of the Constitution, for example, by damaging the basic public order of liberal democracy, infringing on the basic rights of the citizens, the right of private property and the basic public order of the market economy, and violating the principle of non-retroactivity of the criminal law. This is the reason even the “Asian Wall Street Journal” rolled up its sleeves and criticized, “The Uri Party is acting for the North Korean regime. It is trying to gag up the press while making it easy for North Korean spies to work.” The ruling party should first reflect on its conducts which have brought about such a disgraceful situation.

Chun’s comment on the Constitutional Court’s ruling that capital relocation is unconstitutional—“Debate over the ruling shows how healthy our society is, although (we) admit the legal effect of the court`s decision”— can shake the foundation of the Constitution from its roots. It is worrisome that the remark might further provoke the attempts of some Uri Party representatives and “pro-Roh support group” to bring down the Constitutional Court even after the president himself already made it clear that he will accept the ruling.

Fiscal expansion policy is also problematic. It can alleviate economic pains temporarily, but it will be difficult to ward off the side effects. The national debt, which was 60 trillion won in 1997, topped 200 trillion won this year. An excessive issue of policies using national debt to stimulate the economy will accelerate the growth of the debt, and national finance cannot guarantee the security of the national economy.

The idea of using the national pension funds in social overhead capital (SOC), education, and investment in social welfare facilities is dangerous as well. It is highly likely that the national resources will be wasted through excessive investment in sectors void of economical efficiency. The ruling party should throw away its obstinacy regarding anti-market and ideological policies which dwarf private economic activities including investment and consumption, and work on ways to ameliorate various “package regulations,” including the limit system on the amount of investment, extensively.

Representative Chun argued that the ruling party’s reform was a “reform for the economy,” but it is not persuasive. A reform which runs counter to the public sentiment increases uncertainty in state affairs by driving the country into conflict and disruption, and ultimately only aggravates the economy.