Ruling Party Pension Special Committee: "Democratic Party Always Like This" ... Re-request for Formation of Consultative Body and Pension Special Committee

Park Sumin "Waiting for government proposal? It's not working"
Ahn Sanghoon "Democratic Party politicizes even pension reform"

The People Power Party's Special Committee on Pension Reform criticized the Democratic Party for effectively rejecting the proposal to form a tripartite consultative body on pension reform involving the ruling party, opposition parties, and the government, saying, "The Democratic Party is always like this." They further pressured the Democratic Party by stating, "We need to create a tripartite consultative body and a permanent parliamentary special committee on pension reform to discuss this together."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Park Soo-young, chairman of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Pension Reform, after holding a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 17th, told reporters, "We proposed the formation of the tripartite consultative body, but the Democratic Party immediately rejected it, so progress is not being made," adding, "The Democratic Party's stance is that they will review the government proposal themselves." Assemblyman Cho Jung-hoon said, "It seems the Democratic Party is always like this," emphasizing, "If there is even a little sincerity, we should sit down and discuss in any format. We hope they will join the pension reform special committee this time."

On the previous day, Choo Kyung-ho, floor leader of the People Power Party, proposed practical consultations to the Democratic Party for forming a tripartite consultative body on pension reform during a floor strategy meeting. In response, Jin Sung-jun, chairman of the Democratic Party's Policy Committee, immediately issued a statement saying, "Just before the last National Assembly session ended, Representative Lee Jae-myung made a progressive decision to accept the ruling party's position to prioritize comprehensive pension reform and soon start discussions on structural reform. However, the President vetoed this, stating that 'reform is needed to create a pension system that will last 70 years,'" adding, "Since the government rejected the pension reform bill that was difficultly derived through public opinion surveys and bipartisan negotiations and decisions, it is desirable for the government to prepare a pension reform plan, submit it to the National Assembly, and seek the Assembly's review and approval."

Members of the People Power Party's Special Committee on Pension Reform criticized the Democratic Party's demand that the government present its proposal first. Assemblyman Park Soo-min said, "The 22nd National Assembly can promptly start a permanent pension reform special committee, but disrupting that system and just waiting for the government proposal means not doing the work." Assemblyman Ahn Sang-hoon pointed out, "Saying they will consider it only if the government proposal is presented is no different from wanting to start a new political conflict," adding, "Rather than genuine commitment to pension reform, it is a political strategy to politicize even pension reform for future generations."

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