Kim Hyun-ah "In an Era Where Anyone Can Be Vulnerable, Support for Fiscal Expansion... Basic Income Discussion Also Possible"

Former Lawmaker Kim Hyun-ah Joins United Party Emergency Committee
"We Must Constantly Consider the Sustainability of Fiscal Expansion"
"Democratic Party, Once Seen as an Enemy, Will Engage in Healthy Policy Competition"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyemin] Kim Hyun-ah, a member of the 20th National Assembly from the United Future Party and a member of the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee,' said on the 2nd, "The post-COVID era will be a crisis era where anyone can fall into vulnerability," adding, "We can do anything. We will engage in sincere policy competition with the ruling party, which we previously saw only as an adversary."

Through CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, Kim Hyun-ah spoke about the direction of the 'Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee,' saying, "We will become a progressive party."

Kim said, "The term 'vulnerable' was used a lot in the Kim Jong-in Emergency Response Committee, but now it is an unprecedented crisis era where anyone can become vulnerable," and added, "With the Fourth Industrial Revolution, even the previously solid job sectors are disappearing. We are in a situation where we have to do and can do anything."

In the same context, she said, "I also agree on the necessity of fiscal expansion." Kim explained, "In the past, from the conservative party's perspective, fiscal soundness was emphasized and labeled as populism, which could have seemed like a hindrance. However, we must constantly consider the sustainability of (fiscal expansion)."

Regarding discussions on the introduction of a basic income system, she said, "There is nothing that cannot be brought to the table." However, she added, "To implement a basic income system, various prerequisites are necessary. Without setting these, superficial debates only arise about whether to adopt systems used abroad or not. Chairman Kim is also an economic expert and is thinking deeply, but he is also considering political structures and party platforms, so I think more time for careful consideration is needed."

Kim added, "Being progressive means we can do anything, but another spirit of the times that the word carries is responsibility," emphasizing, "We must consider sustainable policies."

She stressed that they will engage in sincere policy competition with the ruling party going forward. Kim said, "From my experience in the 20th National Assembly, the two parties saw each other not as competitors but as enemies to be eliminated. As a result, when one side attacked, the other could not stand it and retaliated, creating a vicious cycle. Now, instead of blindly criticizing the opposing party, it is about saying 'I will do better than the opposing party.'"

Kim continued, "There is also a skeptical view about whether there are political forces in South Korea that truly uphold progressive and conservative values. People say that progressives are no longer progressive but have become vested interests, and question whether conservatism has ever existed in South Korea. I see the Democratic Party's declaration to monopolize standing committee chairmanships as a self-proclamation of becoming vested interests. Although that might not have been the initial intention, once power is gained, the tendency is to protect it."

She added, "New progressive ideas are needed to break the already vested Democratic Party, but in Korea, when we say progressive, it often leads to discussions about socialism or leftism, so I think Chairman Kim considered the word 'progressive' carefully."

Regarding internal opposition within the party, she said, "The Emergency Response Committee must break the ruling party's monopolistic frame as the smallest opposition party in history and become an equal player, while also fighting two huge battles internally. Change is difficult because of various internal inertias, but we must overcome inertia by providing conviction and trust. There seems to be a consensus that if we do not change now, it could become very difficult."

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