Song Young-gil on "100 Trillion Loss Compensation": Suggests "Let's Find a Solution in a Four-Party Meeting" to Kim Jong-in

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] Song Young-gil, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said regarding Kim Jong-in, the People Power Party's general election committee chairman's remark on '100 trillion won scale COVID-19 loss compensation,' "I propose a four-party meeting between myself, Yoon Ho-jung, the Democratic Party floor leader, Chairman Kim, and Kim Ki-hyun, the People Power Party floor leader, to find a solution."

Song, who is the standing election committee chairman of the Democratic Party, held a virtual meeting with some media on the 8th and said, "I fully agree with the intention to strongly support small business owners. If this is not election rhetoric but a responsible statement as the standing election committee chairman of a major party, let's negotiate a plan to materialize that intention through a four-party meeting."

He pointed out, "When Yoon Seok-yeol, the People Power Party presidential candidate, recently mentioned 50 trillion won in support, our party welcomed the comment and suggested concrete discussions between floor leaders, but Floor Leader Kim did not take any follow-up measures at all. So I told Yoon going forward to get approval from Floor Leader Kim before speaking."

Regarding Chairman Kim's attempt to preempt issues while simultaneously engaging in election committee activities, he said, "Chairman Kim's agenda is not closely aligned with Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party presidential candidate, so there are many gaps. It is unclear whether the People Power Party's stance reflects Chairman Kim's personal philosophy or the thoughts of the presidential candidate or Floor Leader Kim."

He continued, "Chairman Kim also spoke about the economic democratization agenda in 2012, but ultimately economic democratization disappeared without a trace after the establishment of the Park Geun-hye administration, and Chairman Kim was sidelined. He needs to show what difference there is now compared to then."

When asked if the supplementary budget for early next year could be promoted if the opposition party actively negotiates in the four-party meeting, Song replied, "I think it depends on the opposition party's consent," adding, "We can find a solution anytime."

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