"Why Should the Government Be Responsible for People's Lives?" Controversy Over Choi Jae-hyung's Remarks... Criticism from Both Ruling and Opposition Parties

Lee Nak-yeon Camp: "Why Did You Run for President?"
Ha Tae-kyung Criticizes, "The President's Duty Is to Take Responsibility for People's Lives"

Choi Jae-hyung, former Chairman of the Board of Audit and Inspection and presidential candidate of the People Power Party.
Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] On the 11th, Choi Jae-hyung, former Auditor General and presidential candidate of the People Power Party, sparked controversy by stating, "Why should the government be responsible when the people themselves should take responsibility for their lives?" Although this was interpreted as an intention to criticize the current administration, criticism arose not only from the ruling party but also within the People Power Party, calling the remark inappropriate.

On the same day, Choi attended a lecture at the party's study group for first-term lawmakers called 'Myeongbulheojeon Conservative' and claimed, "I think the biggest problem with this government's goal is 'to take responsibility for the people's lives,'" adding, "It is a very dangerous idea." He further criticized, "The idea that the government should take full responsibility for the people's lives is exactly the North Korean system."

Choi's remarks came in response to a question from fellow party member Tae Young-ho, who asked, "Democratic Party candidates say they will create a sustainable country by promising certain amounts of money and building many houses, but that is not feasible," and "To be sustainable, shouldn't we collect more national pension contributions and implement fiscal austerity?"

Choi continued, "The government's role is to set the stage," and said, "Government intervention in the private sector should be reduced, and overall tax burdens should be lowered." However, he added, "The responsibility for citizens who fall behind is fundamentally the state's duty. It cannot be neglected."

People Power Party presidential primary candidate Ha Tae-kyung, member of the People Power Party. / Photo by Yonhap News

Choi's remarks drew criticism not only from the ruling party but also within the People Power Party. In a statement, Bae Jae-jung, spokesperson for former Democratic Party leader and presidential candidate Lee Nak-yeon’s camp, sarcastically said, "If someone who has no intention of taking responsibility for the people's lives and calls such responsibility the North Korean system is running for president, then why are they even running?" and added, "They may be unprepared for most current issues, but they seem thoroughly prepared for the 'attitude of not being able to take responsibility for the people."

Ha Tae-kyung, a rival candidate within the party, also wrote on Facebook, "Taking responsibility for the people's lives is a basic duty of the president," and pointed out, "While the people themselves should also take responsibility, naturally the government must also be responsible."

He continued, "The reason we criticize the government is precisely because the government has the grave mission to take responsibility for the people's lives," and questioned, "If the government has no responsibility at all, then what exactly is Candidate Choi running for in the presidential election?"

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