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| Liberty Korea Party's (LKP) reform committee members and lawmakers honor the flag before having a seminar in Gwacheon, Monday. Seen are LKP interim chief Kim Byong-joon, second from left in front row and LKP floor leader Kim Sung-tae, third from left. / Yonhap |
By Park Ji-won
The main opposition Liberty Korea Party (LKP) criticized the Moon Jae-in administration's economic policy Monday, saying its push for "income-led growth" was taking a toll on the country's export-driven economy.
The party's interim leader Kim Byong-joon said Moon was wasting taxpayer money with his "failed" job creation policy, calling it a "man-made disaster."
"Many people expected there would be an economic policy change with the Moon administration, but nothing has changed. In the mean time, the job market has become a bigger problem and the government is planning to spend 4 trillion won to try to fix it, and this is Moon's fault," Kim said Monday during the party's first comprehensive workshop to discuss the LKP's future policies approximately one month after the inauguration of its reform body.
"I think Moon Jae-in's autonomy in decision making has decreased. I thought he was trapped by his surroundings and factional groups, and failed to get out of this. I think the largest opposition party should keep an eye on the administration and come up with countermeasures," Kim added.
His remarks came amid efforts to build the party's philosophy after a large defeat in the June local elections and decreased support. Kim, former policy chief for the Roh Moo-hyun administration, has been criticizing Cheong Wa Dae's policy direction. He was appointed to lead the troubled party and set a new vision last month.
LKP floor leader Kim Sung-tae also bashed the administration for not taking responsibility for the sluggish economy, and pledged to regroup his party.
"During the last presidential election, people all know what Moon Jae-in administration's key aides, including Druking members (suspects of the opinion-rigging scandal) did," Kim Sung-tae said.
"Parliamentary politics is missing due to president-centered politics. If the President truly wants to seek joint governance, he should make up his mind to abolish the policy of lowering a reliance on nuclear power plants and income-led growth so that the South Korean economy can get back on track."
Kim emphasized that Cheong Wa Dae's policy aides, chief policymaker Jang Ha-sung, presidential secretary for social affairs Kim Su-hyun and senior secretary for economic affairs Hong Jang-pyo, should take responsibility for the economic failure.
He also hinted at the possibility of a reshuffle among opposition parties, which have been struggling to join hands due to power games between political factions after the impeachment of former President Park Geun-hye.
"Through the reestablishment of the political direction of our party, we should expand our ideological map so that we can represent socially weak and vulnerable people," Kim said.
