Lee Jae-myung: "Yoon Government a '5-Forgetting Regime'... Proposes Joint Burden for Japan's Contaminated Water Storage Costs"

Plan to Draft a 35 Trillion Won Supplementary Budget
Proposal to Share Fukushima Nuclear Waste Storage Costs with the International Community

Lee Jae-myung, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, on the 19th stated, "One year after the new government took office, the Yoon Seok-yeol administration has abandoned people’s livelihood, economy, politics, diplomacy, and safety, and has given up on the people who are the nation itself," calling it "in short, a five-give-up administration, an administration that abandons the people."

In a negotiation group speech at the National Assembly plenary session that day, Lee pointed out the declining economic growth rate and export markets related to the economy, saying, "Even though the lives of the people are difficult and the economy is struggling, our economy is plummeting without wings due to a government whose ‘no measures is the measure.’"

Regarding the issue of the discharge of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan, he said, "The government should no longer just insist on safety as if representing the Japanese government, but should take practical actions to block the discharge as a sovereign nation," adding, "If cost is an issue, we should consider supporting storage costs together with the international community opposing the discharge. Although unfair, this could be a realistic way to avoid astronomical discharge damage." He proposed a plan to share some of the storage costs of Fukushima contaminated water with the international community.

Lee especially urged a "complete shift in government energy policy" in relation to global environmental changes such as RE100 (100% renewable energy utilization campaign), arguing, "Rapid securing of renewable energy is a matter of life and death for our industry and economy, and renewable energy resources such as wind and solar power are limitless, especially along the southwestern and eastern coasts."

He introduced, "Japan’s renewable energy target for 2030 is 38%, but already three years ago, Sony declared, ‘Due to the low utilization rate of renewable energy in Japan, we have no choice but to leave Japan,’ and urged the Japanese government to expand renewable energy production," adding, "The Yoon Seok-yeol government has rather lowered the 2030 renewable energy target to 21.6%." Lee warned, "If Korean companies fail to participate in RE100, by 2040, exports of key industries such as automobiles by 15%, semiconductors by 30%, and displays by 40% are expected to decrease," and "Soon, it will deal a fatal blow to jobs, gross domestic product, and the domestic economy."

Regarding this, Lee said, "Just as the industrial highway and information highway led growth in the industrial and information communication eras, it is time to build a large-scale nationwide intelligent transmission and distribution network, an energy highway that will lead the new renewable energy era," and argued, "During an economic recession, large-scale government infrastructure investment creates jobs, prevents economic downturn, and lays the foundation for future economy and growth, producing a win-win effect." He emphasized, "Starting with the 2030 renewable energy target, it must be raised to over 30% in line with global trends to secure the international competitiveness of our companies and economy."

Regarding CF100, which the government is promoting including nuclear power, he pointed out, "No matter how hard we push CF100, the international community will not accept it," and "The nuclear power plants expanded and promoted by the Yoon Seok-yeol government are not recognized as RE100 energy sources."

Willingness to Prepare a Supplementary Budget of 35 Trillion Won

Lee also reiterated his intention to push for a supplementary budget of a total of 35 trillion won through government bond issuance. He presented budget sizes including 12 trillion won for support to low-income people under high interest rates, 11 trillion won for support against soaring prices and energy, 7 trillion won for housing stability, and 4.4 trillion won for renewable energy and digital infrastructure construction. He said, "Considering the current economic recession, the hardships of the people, and the efficiency of fiscal management, it is time for fiscal policy to play a role in economic recovery even if it means increasing government bonds somewhat," and introduced, "As of 2021, Korea’s national debt ratio is 51%, less than half of the advanced countries’ average of 117.9%." He added, "This reality where the people bear the debt that the nation should bear is by no means just," and argued, "Timely fiscal support is a way to save costs of after-the-fact remedies."

Lee also proposed additional support measures for jeonse fraud. He said, "Jeonse loans were possible because of state guarantees, and various problems in the rental market have been neglected for decades," adding, "It is natural for the responsible institutions and government to bear some responsibility for the incident." Regarding the special law on jeonse fraud victims, he promised, "Measures for direct relief of damages by the public, such as bond purchase and post-settlement systems, are necessary," and pledged to "take additional legislative action."

He also advocated for revitalizing venture startups and shortening working hours. Regarding the reduction of working hours, Lee introduced overseas cases and examples from domestic large companies, then said, "Let us reduce the side effects of long working hours such as industrial accidents through ‘shortening working hours,’ and create a society where work and life are balanced, and both quality of life and efficiency are high."

Meanwhile, at the end of his speech, Lee drew attention by offering well wishes to President Yoon, who set out on an overseas trip that day. He said, "The President has set out on a diplomatic tour representing the Republic of Korea today," and "As a citizen, I pray and support that he achieves great results and returns safely."

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