hankyoreh

Sept. 16. (by Kang Chang-gwang

By Son Won-je, staff reporter

The Democratic United Party’s presidential candidate, Moon Jae-in places “People First” at the core of his platform. All his policies contain the “for the people” concept, and center on some core ideas - “Using money for the people (Welfare),” “Thinking of people and social minorities first (Consideration),” and “Standing humbly as a government in front of the people (Democracy).” Moon has a set of policies that would give substance to his vision.

At the peak of Moon’s policy is “a revolution to create more and better jobs”. Time and again during his primary race, Moon has said that he wants to be remembered as “a president who revolutionized jobs in Korea.” Accordingly, the first campaign pledge, presented on July 19, was the policy “to revolutionize jobs.” The policy contains the promise to create 1.5 millions stable jobs during his terms by setting a limit of 52 working hours per week, fostering new growth industries, and creating new jobs in different regions.

He also promises to regularize part-time and irregular jobs in the public sector and get rid of discrimination in the workplace by enacting “Equal Opportunity of Employment Act” and standardizing equal pay for equal jobs. Moon also pledges to establish a minimum wage that is 50% of the average national wage, stop illegal dispatch and subcontracting within big corporations, and introduce a special fund to assist the unemployed.

“I will use jobs as a barometer to measure the performance of the government. And for this, I will newly install a national job creation committee under the president,” said Moon.

Economic democracy is another one of Moon Jae-in’s main focuses. The DUP candidate stated in his policy platform titled, “Moon Jae-in’s Strength: People First,” “The spirit and mindset to lead the next five years is to correct this imbalance of 1% to 99% in our society.”

He added, “The task of the next government is to realize economic democracy based on the political democracy that Korea already enjoys.” Moon stated, “without chaebol reform, economic democracy cannot take place, and thus, clear rules and laws must be established concerning the chaebol.”

In addition to reforms of chaebol, Moon wants to see a more engaging development as well as strengthening of social economy as part of economic democracy.

As part of his welfare policy, Moon stresses guaranteed rights to housing. For this, he is presenting policies that enact a new housing law, expand the number of long-term public lease houses, partial privatization of public lease houses, create measures to protect tenants, and construct more small one-room dwellings for singles. Also as a means to provide the financial ground for his welfare policies, Moon is proposing to get rid of tax benefits for the rich, increase taxes in the highest income brackets, and strengthen tax on capital income.

On inter-Korean relations, Moon proposes a “Five Year Plan for the Construction of South-North Korea Economic Confederation” to create an economic community on the Korean peninsula. He also hopes to hold the third South-North summit meeting around June 15 if he is elected.

Moon also proposes the establishment of a new investigative team within the prosecutor’s office to investigate political and public corruption and irregularities. Finally, the DUP candidate proposes for a second round of development plans that will balance out economic and social disparities around the country.

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