The ruling and opposition parties' leadership is intensifying internal conflict within the People Power Party over the 'National Pension Act amendment' agreed upon. The reason is the burden on the younger generation, but both the pro-Han Dong-hoon faction and many pro-Yoon Seok-yeol veterans have opposed the leadership. It is unusual for more than half of the party's members to have defected during the assembly's vote. The party's pension reform special committee has also been disbanded. As the impeachment trial verdict date for President Yoon Seok-yeol approaches, analysis suggests that the gap between the leadership and the internal group has widened.
Park Soo-young, the chairperson of the People Power Party's pension reform special committee, and the committee members said at a press conference on the 21st, "We take responsibility for the bad legislation that shifts burdens to the younger generation and resign," adding, "We are angry about the leadership's agreement that ignores all internal opinions." They further noted, "The party leadership agreed with the opposition without even knowing the content, granting all requests from the Democratic Party and the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions."
In particular, regarding ▲government payment guarantees being specified ▲expansion of credits for childbirth and military service ▲introduction of an 'automatic adjustment mechanism,' it was stated, "We followed the demands of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions. It will become a mediocre (National Assembly) special committee." Previously, the ruling and opposition parties agreed on a reform plan with an insurance premium rate (the money paid) of 13% and an income replacement rate (the money received) of 43% under these conditions.
Internally, there were claims among the People Power Party's pension reform special committee that it is necessary to 'shave heads' as a form of protest. This indicates a reference to collective action opposed to the party leadership's decision. There were also claims that the party leadership lost negotiating power amid President Yoon Seok-yeol's absence. A strong pro-Yoon lawmaker told currency that "the president clearly said it was unacceptable, and if the president had been present, such conditions would never have been accepted."
There are many interpretations suggesting that dissatisfaction with the leadership’s lack of active engagement in protests has shifted to the 'pension' issue. Despite ongoing outdoor rallies against the impeachment, the leadership has distanced itself from participating at the party level. This is in consideration of the possibility of an early presidential election. To capture the moderate voter base, distancing from the strong support base is unavoidable. A key figure in the National Assembly leadership stated, "There are countless angry text messages asking what they are doing by not attending the anti-impeachment rallies."
Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader, spoke with reporters that day, saying, "Although we screamed at the Democratic Party for only caring about the interests of the older generation while hurting the future generation, the Democratic Party firmly rejected it. Since we realistically have our limits, we couldn't be 100% satisfied, but we made an agreement for now," adding, "If the People Power Party receives more choices (in the election), we will create a proper pension reform plan then." He also stated, "Our party's pension special committee member will be composed mainly of young generation lawmakers."
The voices of the pro-Han faction have also grown louder. Former Representative Han Dong-hoon stated the day before, after the National Pension Act amendment passed the general assembly, "It is a structure that allows the older generation to benefit at the expense of the younger generation." He wrote on social media, "Young people should not suffer more than the older generation. Even if it is advantageous for political calculations, politics should not be that way." In the general assembly, pro-Han faction lawmakers like Park Jeong-ha, Bae Hyun-jin, Park Jeong-hoon, Jeong Seong-guk, and Jin Jong-o voted against the proposal.