GNP Declares War on Taxes

The Grand National Party (GNP) has declared a war on taxes.

The new taxation reform bill prepared by the government and the ruling Uri Party is a cruel measure to make up the deficit of tax revenues caused by misguided economic measures by collecting taxes paid by the sweat of taxpayers’ brows, according to the GNP on August 29. Harshly criticizing the bill, the GNP also announced that it would stop the passage of the reform bill in a regular session of the National Assembly scheduled for September.

In the party’s standing steering committee, floor leader Kang Jae-sup said that the new taxation reform bill, which includes the increased special excise tax on Soju, the liquefied natural gas (LNG), and the reduced income deduction on credit card and housing funds, will only lead to a heavier tax burden on common people, such as salary earners.

“We’ll thoroughly inquire into the government’s misuses and overuses of budget money and haul up those in charge. We’ll also actively push for a decrease in the oil tax,” Kang added.

Dong-Yong Min mindy@donga.com