Prime Minister Nominee Minseok Kim: "High Prices Causing Hardship... Distribution Transparency Must Be Enhanced"

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim stated on June 13, "The rapid rise in the cost of living has caused indescribable hardship for ordinary people," adding, "For items with opaque distribution processes, we must enhance transaction transparency."

Prime Minister nominee Minseok Kim is speaking at a listening meeting to stabilize meal prices held at the hearing preparation office set up at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul on June 13, 2025. Photo by Yongjun Cho

On this morning at the Financial Supervisory Service Training Institute in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Kim presided over a meeting with representatives from the food and restaurant industries. He said, "The practice of shifting burdens onto the public due to a lack of transparency in transactions must be corrected as part of rationalizing our market," reiterating his stance.

Kim also introduced examples from his tenure as head of the Democratic Research Institute and Policy Committee Chair of the Democratic Party, such as the '1,000-won breakfast for university students' and 'five-day-a-week lunches at senior centers.' He suggested, "Why not further develop policies that ensure a dignified life and meals for all citizens, including university students, seniors, and office workers?"

Regarding the issue of delivery fees, Kim directly criticized the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, stating, "The self-regulation policy of the Yoon government has failed." He continued, "Discussions, including legislative measures, have already begun on how to set appropriate levels for delivery brokerage fees, and the government is also closely monitoring the situation."

However, Kim noted, "The era when the government could directly suppress corporate selling prices through price controls has likely passed." He explained, "While we must preserve the autonomy of reasonable market prices, there remains a policy imperative for the government to stabilize prices for ordinary people, so social dialogue among businesses, the government, and the public is necessary."

Kim further emphasized, "President Lee Jaemyung's interest in the sharp rise in food prices, his unplanned market visits early in his term, and his repeated raising of the issue are not accidental." He added, "President Lee dislikes working in a merely formal manner." Kim concluded, "The Lee Jaemyung administration will be a government focused on practicality, results, and people's livelihoods, one that delves deeply to solve problems and deliver outcomes. To help build such a government, I will serve as a 'Prime Minister for the People' who supports the President."

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