Conservative dissatisfaction surges following Lee Jun-seok's PPP nomination debacle
Rewritten Article:
Lee Jun-seok, from South Korea's Reform Party, has been making waves in the presidential race with bold campaign promises. On May 10, he delivered a speech in Daegu's Jung District. [NEWS1]
During his speech, Lee Jun-seok outlined his plans to modernize the government, reignite the economy, champion young people, and decentralize power. [YONHAP]
In an unprecedented move, Lee intends to slash the number of government ministries from 19 to 13, merging or eliminating certain departments. He suggests merging the Foreign and Unification ministries, consolidating Education and Science, and even dismantling the Gender Equality Ministry. Furthermore, he advocates for an independent Health Ministry. [2][3][4]
Simultaneously, Lee seeks to decentralize presidential power, creating three deputy prime ministers responsible for security, strategy, and social affairs. He proposes abolishing the National Security Office under the presidential office and dismantling the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, a key initiative established during the Moon Jae-in administration. [2][4]
To empower local governments, Lee intends to convert 30% of national corporate tax revenue into local taxes and give municipalities the leeway to set their own minimum wages based on local industries’ conditions. [2][3][4]
Lee's economic vision revolves around luring foreign companies back to South Korea by offering preferential minimum wages for foreign staff for up to 10 years. He also considers providing municipalities with fiscal incentives to attract businesses and cultivating defense industries as national flagship sectors. [1][4][5]
On social matters, he proposes overhauling the national pension system to offer individuals debt-free retirement based on premiums paid. Additionally, he plans to establish a "Dden Start Fund" offering loans of up to 50 million won to aid young people entering society and reform education by providing better support for teachers and addressing student behavior. [2][4]
While Lee's emphasis is on domestic institutional and policy reform, he evades offering definitive diplomatic and security pledges due to the dynamic nature of U.S. foreign policy. [4]
In summary, Lee Jun-seok's campaign prioritizes reforming the government, stimulating the economy, supporting youth and education, and revamping social systems like the pension plan to establish a stable, efficient, and fairer governing structure in South Korea.
- Lee Jun-seok's proposals in South Korea's presidential race involve international policy changes, such as merging the Foreign and Unification ministries to consolidate foreign affairs.
- In addition to domestic reforms, Lee Jun-seok has not provided specific diplomatic and security pledges, acknowledging the dynamic nature of U.S. foreign policy.
