Yoon Hee-sook: "New President, Just Hoping for a Wise King Will Lead to Failure... We Must Build a System"

Presidential Candidate Relay Interview ⑨ Yoon Hee-sook, People Power Party Lawmaker
Reveals Painful Pledges on Labor, Education, and Public Reform
"Elections Should Be a Feast of Ideas, Made into a Fight for Better Outcomes"
Real Estate Policy Needs an Approach That Supports Demanders' Needs

[Asia Economy Reporters Naju-seok and Park Jun-i] Yoon Hee-sook, a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, envisioned a country that operates through a system rather than relying on a single great leader. He said, "If we only wait for a sage king (聖君), everyone will perish," adding, "With that mindset, we must now create a system."

Yoon Hee-sook, Member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yoon Dong-ju doso7@

In an interview held on the 9th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building, Rep. Yoon said, "People have a mindset of waiting for a sage king in their hearts, but the outcome is either all or nothing, and the probability of 'all' is not high." As an example of a state operation not based on a system, he pointed to the Blue House. Yoon stated, "According to the Government Organization Act, the Blue House has a Secretariat and a Chief, and the enforcement decree states that aides are appointed. But how can a Senior Secretary have the authority to command ministers?" He criticized, "There are cases where a person (Senior Secretary) who has not been formally delegated by anyone dares to disregard a minister who leads a ministry. And these people are not responsible for anything."

Rep. Yoon, who aims to put the reform of the imperial presidential system on the agenda, expressed concern whether a leading presidential candidate would change their mind when on the verge of 'seizing power.' He emphasized, "From a leader's perspective, having many Blue House staff and secretaries might be convenient, but it is not good for the country," adding, "One must know when to step in and when to step back (kkil-kkippa-ppa)." In the system country that Yoon envisions, ministers cannot say to public officials, 'Do you want to die?' He said, "A system will be created where public officials do their jobs."

Looking at the pledges Yoon has made since declaring his presidential candidacy, they are all reform-oriented: 'labor reform' that signals a showdown with aristocratic unions including the introduction of substitute workers, 'education reform' promising comprehensive academic achievement evaluation, 'public pension reform' based on paying more and receiving less, and 'public sector reform' emphasizing renewal of the public sector. These differ from other candidates who promise various supports ranging from tens of millions to billions of won. Rather than rallying support, he has announced painful reforms. Yoon said, "Empty promises or negatives are what paint the image of 'politics' in our minds, but that era must pass," adding, "Elections should be a feast of ideas, fundamentally a fight for doing well."

Although he prides himself on policy capability and having a vision for the future, his approval ratings remain low. To this, he said, "Conventional wisdom is very strong," and self-assessed, "The image of a leader that people have does not match mine. Being a woman, still young, and having a cool-headed image is far from a charismatic leader." Changing public perception is also a task given to him.

Yoon Hee-sook, Member of the People Power Party./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Famous for his 5-minute speech titled 'I am a tenant,' he argued regarding real estate policy, "We must recognize the desires people have and approach them in a way that helps." He said, "The state should approach from the perspective of 'how to help' the urgent desire to own a home and live in a better house," diagnosing, "(The current government) has subordinated areas that require economic logic to politics by doing politics only for supporters." He suggested that real estate policy should be implemented by dividing people into those hoping for better housing, first-time homebuyers, and those needing public rental housing, and supporting their diverse needs through the state.

Yoon said, "Lifting reconstruction regulations does not harm those who have to live in public rental housing," emphasizing, "Korea is the 9th largest economy in the world by GDP, so waiting until 'the house shakes' to allow reconstruction is a strange regulation. We need to have a different perspective on the desires of each social class."

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