Choi Jae-hyung "Government promises to take responsibility for people's lives? Long-standing false hope"

"The government's role is to help those who are struggling the most"

People Power Party's presidential primary candidate Choi Jae-hyung is attending the Good Morning Forum held at the Korea Federation of SMEs in Yeouido, Seoul on the 12th, delivering a greeting./Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kum Boryeong] Choi Jae-hyung, former head of the Board of Audit and Inspection and a presidential candidate from the People Power Party, responded to criticism from both inside and outside the party regarding his statement that "the government cannot be responsible for every aspect of the people's lives" by saying it was a "misunderstanding or distortion of the intent of his remarks."

On the 12th, Choi held a briefing at his campaign office in Yeouido, Seoul, stating, "I believe that the idea of the government being responsible for every aspect of the people's lives has actually been a long-standing political false hope for the people."

He questioned, "The Moon Jae-in administration even produced a public report titled 'A State Responsible for My Life.' But did the Moon administration truly take responsibility for the people's lives? Didn't it, with various sweet and flashy pledges and numerous unverified policies, push people's lives into even more unbearable suffering?"

Choi further explained, "What the government should do is to help those who are truly struggling to continue living safely within a more thorough and reliable social safety net, to create a minimum system where all citizens can work freely, feel secure, have children, and educate them, and to establish conditions that allow for a new life after retirement. The government should not dominate and interfere in every citizen's life but rather guarantee the people's autonomous lives."

He expressed his determination to confront the controversy head-on. Choi emphasized, "The government cannot be responsible for every aspect of the people's lives. If such a government existed, it would either be a perfect utopia or a totalitarian state with severe government interference and intervention. The government's role is to create systems and conditions where all citizens can live autonomously and to firmly support vulnerable groups who find it difficult to stand alone, thereby building a healthy and sustainable community."

Meanwhile, Park Dae-chul, a member of the People Power Party and head of the strategy headquarters at Choi's campaign, commented on former lawmaker Shin Ji-ho of former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl's campaign making 'impeachment' remarks about Lee Jun-seok, leader of the People Power Party. Park said, "It is a clear violation that cannot be dismissed as a personal lapse," and added, "I sincerely hope for an apology for pouring cold water on a beautiful primary and for resolving the conflict."

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