Lee Jun-seok Delegated Policy Decisions... Emphasizes 'Abolishing Free Rides for Elderly and Military Service System'

Lee Jun-seok, co-representative entrusted with policy decisions of the Reform New Party, has once again emphasized the abolition of free rides for the elderly and the improvement of the military service system.

On the morning of the 19th, at the Kwanhun Club invitation debate held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, Representative Lee said in his opening remarks, "I felt that we must break the chain where the subway base fare, which was already 1,250 won last year, increased to 1,550 won this July, even if it means giving up greater future benefits."

He also criticized, "Despite the warning 20 years ago that the conscription-eligible population would decrease and a manpower shortage would occur, the political circles did not prepare any measures for fear of losing votes. When the Military Manpower Administration announced last December that even volunteers who are 174cm tall and weigh 121kg would be enlisted for active duty, I felt a sense of self-reproach that even the conservative government, which claims to value national security as life itself, failed to bring about courageous change."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

He added, "The Reform New Party will play a role in bringing the crises facing the Republic of Korea to the surface. Even if we are criticized and broken like a sharp stone for doing what other parties dare not do out of fear, unlike the meaningless villain competition between President Yoon Seok-yeol and Representative Lee Jae-myung, we will confidently engage in productive politics with important policy issues for the future."

Representative Lee said, "Whenever we raise the topic of reform one by one, we are criticized as causing division or promoting hatred," and countered, "To the younger generation, the rebuttal that it causes division and hatred is becoming a clich?d anti-reform logic."

He stated, "They do not want their future to be decided by the idle elites who pursue political correctness while standing idly by. When the older generation, strongly influenced by the glory of industrialization and pride in democratization, empathizes with the urgency, culture, and challenges of the future generation born in advanced countries, our society can weave more successful reforms."

Furthermore, regarding his situation three years after the presidential election, he said, "It has been a rollercoaster-like period. I think the past three years have been a steady downhill for the Republic of Korea."

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.