Kang Byung-won Proposes 'Duck Feet Prevention Act'... "Hearings and Taxation Details Must Be Disclosed"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] On the 13th, Kang Byung-won, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, proposed amendments to the Framework Act on National Taxes and the Framework Act on Local Taxes to include tax information of candidates in National Assembly confirmation hearings as an exception to the confidentiality clause.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

On the 13th, Kang's office issued a press release stating, "The reason why Prime Minister nominee Han Duck-soo and Kim & Chang were uncooperative in submitting materials was due to Article 81-13 (Confidentiality) of the Framework Act on National Taxes," and pointed out, "Under current law, National Assembly audits are included as exceptions to confidentiality, but confirmation hearings are not."

They added, "To address this legal deficiency and to strengthen the thorough verification required in confirmation hearings, we have proposed amendments to the 'Framework Act on National Taxes' and the 'Framework Act on Local Taxes,' nicknamed the 'Duck Leg Prevention Act'."

The amendment adds the submission of materials for confirmation hearings as an exception to the nine existing exceptions to confidentiality of national and local tax payment data stipulated in the Framework Act on National Taxes and the Framework Act on Local Taxes. The amendment allows the National Assembly Confirmation Hearing Special Committee, standing committees, or special committees established under the National Assembly Act to request tax information of candidates during the confirmation process by committee resolution and receive such information.

Kang, the Democratic Party's secretary of the Confirmation Hearing Special Committee for candidate Han, said, "The refusal and insincere provision of materials by candidate Han caused the schedule of the National Assembly Confirmation Hearing Special Committee to be delayed by a week, resulting in difficulties," and added, "With the 'Duck Leg Prevention Act,' we will do our best to ensure that future National Assembly confirmation hearings scrutinize high-ranking public office candidates more thoroughly and transparently before the public."

This amendment was jointly proposed by ten lawmakers, including Kang himself, and fellow party members Shin Dong-geun, Choi Kang-wook, Oh Ki-hyung, Lee Hae-sik, Woo Sang-ho, Kim Min-chul, Seol Hoon, Kang Min-jung, and Jin Sung-jun.

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