Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said on the 15th regarding the push for inheritance tax reform, "To ensure that many citizens can benefit, we will allow them to stay in the house filled with family memories without having to sell their home and leave due to taxes."
On the same day, Lee posted an article titled "Inheritance tax reform, what is correct?" on Facebook and compared the proposals of the Democratic Party and the People Power Party regarding inheritance tax reform.
Lee wrote in the Democratic Party proposal, "A blanket deduction of 500 million won; the spouse deduction of 500 million won should be increased to 800 million won and 1 billion won respectively (up to 1.8 billion won tax-free. The majority of the middle class in the metropolitan area can inherit without selling their homes)."
He pointed out regarding the People Power Party's proposal, "Insisting on reducing the highest tax rate only benefits a small number of asset owners with tens of billions, hundreds of billions, and thousands of billions of won." He added, "The law and power should not be tools for the privileges of a few," asserting, "It only deepens the already worsening polarization, and privileges like tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy must not happen."
Lee also expressed these views at a policy forum held in the National Assembly the previous day to discuss the realistic application of inheritance tax deductions.
The Democratic Party is currently pushing for amendments to the inheritance and gift tax law to increase the standard deduction for inheritance tax and the minimum amount for spouse inheritance deductions.
Compared to the Democratic Party's traditional tax policy, this is seen as a 'rightward shift' aimed at capturing the centrist base.
In response to these claims, People Power Party spokesman Shin Dong-wook commented, "Who would trust the words of a 'lie native speaker' who uses lies as if it were their mother language?" He criticized, "What Lee needs first is not flashy claims or political rhetoric, but restoring a minimum level of credibility."
Shin pointed out, "Lee suggested that by presenting the 'black cat and white cat theory,' they would accept an exemption for workers in the semiconductor industry from the 52-hour workweek, and hinted at the withdrawal of national support of 250,000 won, but nothing has actually been realized," adding, "There are even claims that Lee's 'rightward shift' is a 'fake click.'"
He then introduced comments from citizens on articles related to Lee's inheritance tax reform, stating, 'When he said inheritance tax reform, I thought he was really going to reform it,' 'You need to be able to trust,' and 'What will he say tomorrow to change his words?'
Shin stated, "I cannot agree with the intent of the inheritance tax reform that Lee mentioned," and added, "The People Power Party will strongly pursue specific and practical tax reform measures like lowering inheritance tax and gift tax at the committee level in the National Assembly."