GNP Chair Blasts Government Policies

Chairwoman Park Geun-hye of the Grand National Party announced yesterday, “The GNP and I are clearly opposed to the Roh Moo-hyun administration’s policy to expand public expenditure. By coming into power, the GNP will put into practice a bold tax-cut policy.”

In a New Year’s press conference held at the party’s headquarters on that day, Park said, “This administration has aggravated bipolarization by driving the middle class and low-income citizens into bankruptcy. Rather than reflecting on itself, however, it seeks to drop a ‘tax bomb’ and is splitting the nation by separating people into haves and have-nots, which is irresponsible populism.”

She emphasized, “Astronomical financial losses have been incurred by the current administration, as the number of government officials increased by 40,000, personnel costs rose by four trillion won, and public funds exceeded 20 trillion won. The government should stop squandering taxpayers’ money, create a smaller government through strenuous restructuring, and lift its regime of regulations.”

The GNP chairwoman also said, “The major culprit of bipolarization is the economic recession that the current government has created for the last three years, and the issue of bipolarization will never be solved unless investment is revitalized. Now it is time for us to push for growth again, and we will implement an economic policy that utilizes all means at our disposal to enhance our growth momentum.”

Park stated, “Between small and big governments, and between a tax cut and a tax increase, we should figure out which one is the path toward an advanced Korea and get the support of the people for it,” implying that she will raise the issue part of the the GNP’s policy agenda in earnest.

Regarding North Korea’s nuclear program and alleged currency forgery, she asserted, “The government should develop a clear attitude in order to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. It should also clarify that counterfeiting of U.S. dollars is an obvious international crime, a separate case from the six-party talks.”

When it came to controversy over another revision of the Private School Law, Park announced, “The only solution to the problem is another revision. We will continue to fight to the end.”

Sung-Won Park swpark@donga.com