尹Government’s first government question]①The conflict between the old and the new ②The tax cut debate ③The reality of scientific quarantine ④Han Deoksoo’s debut… 4 major viewing points

President Yoon Seok-yeol (center) speaks at a workshop on government affairs by the vice ministers held at the Gwacheon Branch of the National Civil Service Human Resources Development Center in Gwacheon-si, Gyeonggi-do, on the afternoon of the 22nd. [사진=연합뉴스]

The first questions from the government to the National Assembly since the inauguration of the Yun Seok-yeol government will be held for three days from the 25th to the 27th. The struggle between the ruling and opposition parties to secure political leadership will be fierce. Depending on which hand the people support, it is expected that the approval rating of President Yoon Seok-yeol, who has fallen to the low 30% range, to ‘further fall’ or ‘reversely rise’ is expected to be decided.

Frontal clash of new and old powers… Dong-Hoon Han vs Beom-Gye Park

On the 25th, in the fields of politics, diplomacy, unification, and security, the people’s power is expected to delve into the security controversy of the incumbent Moon Jae-in administration with links such as ‘forced repatriation of North Korean fishermen to North Korea’ and ‘the shooting of a public official in the West Sea’. Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun, Ha Tae-kyung, Tae Young-ho, and Hong Seok-joon will be interviewed.

On the other hand, opposition parties such as the Democratic Party of Korea are determined to actively highlight the problems of the current government, such as the presidential office ‘private recruitment’, ‘republic of the prosecution’ and ‘police control’. In the Democratic Party, Rep. Park Bum-gye, Park Ju-min, Ko Min-jeong, Kim Byeong-joo, Lee Hae-sik, and Lim Ho-seon will play as strikers. The point to watch is the fierce legal battle between Rep. Park Beom-gye (former judge), former and current Minister of Justice, and Minister Han Dong-hoon (former prosecutor).

◆ ‘Tax cut for the rich’ or ‘Enhancing economic vitality’?

In the economic field on the 26th, it is expected that there will be clashes over issues of people’s livelihood, such as high interest rates, high exchange rates, and high inflation. In particular, the relevance of government policies such as the recently announced tax reform bill is expected to rise. Opposition parties criticize corporate tax cuts as ‘tax cuts for the wealthy that are deteriorating the national finances’, while the government and ruling parties are likely to oppose it as ‘measures to enhance economic vitality and stabilize people’s livelihood’.

Here, the people’s power is expected to argue that the failure of the previous Moon Jae-in administration’s income-led growth and real estate and nuclear phase-out policies is the cause of the current economic crisis. Lim Ja, Cho Myung-hee, Choi Seung-jae, and Han Moo-kyung will join the party.

On the other hand, opposition parties such as the Democratic Party are likely to claim that the current government is recruiting the former government to cover up their economic incompetence. Kim Kyung-hyeop, Kim Han-jeong, Shin Dong-geun, Lee Seong-man, Hong Seong-guk, Oh Ki-hyeong, and Bae Jin-kyo of the Justice Party ask questions.

The reality of COVID-19 ‘scientific quarantine’

On the last 27 days, in the field of education, society and culture, it is likely that there will be a battle over the effectiveness of the current government’s ‘scientific quarantine’ in the case of the re-spreading of Corona 19. The Democratic Party argues that the current government has given up the responsibility of the state and has become a ‘self-sustaining quarantine’.

There is also likely to be criticism for the absence of the Minister of Health and Welfare, who is the head of the Corona 19 response. Rep. Han Jeong-ae, Kim Seong-ju, Kim Young-bae, Jeon Jae-su, Seo Dong-yong, and Lee Tan-hee from the Democratic Party and Kang Eun-mi from the Justice Party ask questions.

A de facto hearing is also expected for Park Soon-ae, the deputy prime minister and education minister, who was appointed without a personnel hearing. Deputy Prime Minister Park has been accused of drunk driving and plagiarism. Rep. Park Seong-joong, Lee Man-hee, Kim Byeong-wook, and Choi Hyung-doo will participate in the People’s Power.

Debut before Han Deok-soo… Will a ‘star minister’ be born?

The three-day question from the government is the debut stage of the National Assembly members, including Prime Minister Han Deok-soo. Attention is focused on whether the birth of a ‘star minister’ emphasized by President Yoon. If the opposition party’s wave of waves can be tolerated with ease, it is expected that the Yun Seok-yeol administration will help manage state affairs, and will serve as an opportunity to raise the ‘political weight’ of individual members of the State Council.

On the 22nd, President Yoon presided over the ‘Workshop for Ministers’ Government Tasks’ in Gwacheon and said, “I ask that the vice minister take responsibility so that the policies needed by the people can easily enter the eyes and ears of the people.” I have been asked to respond.

After the election of 18 standing chairpersons at the plenary session of the National Assembly on the afternoon of the 22nd, when negotiations for the composition of the second half of the National Assembly were concluded after 53 days of absence from the National Assembly, National Assembly Speaker Kim Jin-pyo (top right) announces the voting results. [사진=연합뉴스]