Integrated Train Departed Amid Noise... "Judgment on Moon Jae-in Administration's One-Sided Rule"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Ji-eun] The Innovation Integration Promotion Committee (IIPC), aiming for the unification of the moderate conservative camp, held its first public report meeting on the 31st and presented the framework for integration. The goal is to become a political alternative force that upholds the values of freedom, democracy, republic, and fairness, which are the foundation of the constitutional spirit, and pursues future-oriented values. However, noise remains as Yoo Seung-min, chairman of the Conservative Reconstruction Committee of the New Conservative Party, was absent from the event, and the possibility of a 'middle integration' was mentioned.

◆ Upholding Constitutional Principles While Thinking About the Future = At the public report meeting held on the 31st of last month, the IIPC announced the principles and direction of integration, five major policy pillars, and ten key tasks reflecting these contents.

First, the values that the integrated new party seeks were presented as four values: freedom, democracy, republic, and fairness, along with future values.

The reason freedom was cited as the first core integration value is based on the recognition that the root of the Republic of Korea's identity lies in conviction and empathy for the value of freedom. In this regard, the committee stated that the Moon Jae-in administration's disregard and infringement of freedom are intensifying, and it will strive for the full realization of equal freedom under the rule of law and responsible freedom.

Regarding the second value, democracy, the committee emphasized democracy based on representative and electoral democracy and criticized the Moon administration's political revenge-style purge of deep-rooted evils. Concerning the third value, republic, it pointed out the Moon administration's abuse of power and infringement of the separation of powers, emphasizing the prohibition of arbitrary abuse of power by minorities and the separation of powers for checks and balances.

Regarding the fourth value, fairness, it criticized the hypocrisy of the current administration revealed through populism and the Cho Kuk incident and rejected the tolerance of irrational rents and privileges that deepen political and economic inequality.

Additionally, the integrated new party should not be a party that regresses or remains in the past, so emphasis was placed on setting future values. The major changes leading the future were presented as ▲ artificial intelligence digital revolution ▲ climate change ▲ super-aging society. The IIPC stressed that through creativity and humanity, it must respond to future changes and open windows of opportunity for future generations.

Regarding unification, it emphasized that it must be pursued under the principle of upholding the values of liberal democracy. The IIPC added, "True unification is the integration of systems," warning against premature federal unification and stating that true peace must be premised on North Korea's denuclearization."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ "The ROK-US Alliance Evolves, Income-led Growth is Abandoned" = Based on these fundamental values, the IIPC presented five major policy pillars: ▲ security-first complex diplomacy ▲ revitalizing the private-led economy ▲ fundamental education reform ▲ advancement of quality of life ▲ creating a fair society, along with ten key tasks to correct the Moon administration.

Through the five major tasks, the IIPC prioritized complete denuclearization of North Korea and securing nuclear deterrence against realistic North Korean nuclear threats in terms of security, emphasizing the implementation of complex diplomacy that strengthens the evolution of the ROK-US alliance, ROK-Japan cooperation, and strategic diplomacy with China to respond to the new Cold War trend. It also pledged to focus on creating an innovative ecosystem and to do its best to create a regulatory environment that enhances private sector vitality and creativity. Fundamental education reform will be carried out for the nation's long-term future, and in response to super-aging and low birth rates, lifecycle-customized welfare will be provided while eliminating abuse of power and remnants of authoritarianism.

The first task to correct the Moon administration was the abandonment of the income-led growth theory and transition to private-led growth. The IIPC stated, "Conservative parties have been overwhelmed by the logic of power and failed to properly back public opinion, thus unable to stop the Moon administration's reckless actions," and added, "We will promote private-market-led growth through regulatory reform, industrial restructuring, and labor reform." The minimum wage increase rate will be linked to growth rates over the next five years, and exceptions to the 52-hour workweek will be applied to small and medium enterprises, R&D, IT, gaming, and Fourth Industrial Revolution sectors.

The second task is to block tax omnipotence economic policies, conduct a full-scale national audit on fake jobs created through public funds and policies supporting pro-Moon activist groups, and push for amendments to the National Finance Act to prevent fiscal addiction. Third, after investigating the reality of the nuclear phase-out policy, a nuclear power hearing will be held, and a balanced energy policy will be adopted. Fourth, a national audit will be conducted on the Moon administration's abuse of power and corruption involving Shinil Group, solar power, and Burning Sun. Fifth, the committee will prevent privatization of power agencies through the abolition or revision of the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials Act.

Additionally, the 6th to 10th tasks include ▲ enacting laws to prevent public fund parasites ▲ promoting education reform to prevent politicization of education ▲ labor reform to prevent aristocratic union dominance and improve labor inequality ▲ blocking pension socialism ▲ preventing the collapse of the ROK-US alliance.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

◆ Noise and Division Around Conservative Integration Persist = However, concerns continue that this could result in a half-hearted integration. Yoo, considered a key partner in conservative integration, was absent from the public report meeting held that day. Although Ha Tae-kyung, co-representative of the New Conservative Party, participated, Yoo is effectively leading the party. Yoo's position is to decide whether to join the integrated new party depending on the party-to-party integration results with the Liberty Korea Party. There is interest in whether a meeting with Hwang Kyo-ahn, leader of the Liberty Korea Party, will take place as early as next week regarding this matter.

Within the Liberty Korea Party, the possibility of a middle integration is also being discussed. On the 31st, Kim Young-woo, a Liberty Korea Party lawmaker, appeared on tbs radio's "Kim Eo-jun's News Factory" and said, "We need a grand conservative integration, but there is also a possibility of a middle conservative integration or a small integration," adding, "People like former Governor Kim Moon-soo have started other groups, and unfortunately, there is not much time left."

Former Bareunmirae Party lawmaker Ahn Cheol-soo, representing the moderate forces, also expressed disinterest in integration and is showing signs of founding a new party. Ahn's side told reporters via text message that "On February 2, we will hold a political innovation press conference and a luncheon meeting with the press corps to announce plans for the new party," drawing a clear line by stating they have "no interest" in participating in the IIPC.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.