Kweon Seong-dong, the floor leader of the People Power Party, on the 20th, regarding the National Pension Law amendment (parametric reform plan) that passed the National Assembly with a bipartisan agreement, said, "I know there is criticism within the party, but we had no choice but to move forward gradually due to reality, and I feel sorry for the future generations."
Kweon, the floor leader, addressed the internal backlash regarding the pension law amendment agreement shortly after a party strategy meeting held in the National Assembly, saying, "I respect their opinions, and I will do my best to ensure that a (youth) voice is well-represented when discussing structural reforms in the pension special committee."
He noted, "I understand the voices of the youth in their 20s and 30s better than anyone else," and added, "I have represented their voices at various meetings and cried out countless times during negotiations with the Democratic Party, asking, 'Can the established generation please do something for the future generations?' and 'Why are you only looking after the established generation?' and 'Are you trying to inflict pain on the future generations?'" He explained the background of the agreement, stating, "The Democratic Party resolutely rejected our requests, and realistically we also had our limitations in power."
He continued, "I judged that proceeding according to this agreement would still help national finances and the national economy, so even though I am not 100% satisfied, I agreed for now, and by completing structural reforms through the pension reform special committee, I made this decision to give hope to the young and future generations and alleviate their pain."
Kweon, the floor leader, stated, "I still have a sense of regret towards them," and added, "If the People Power Party approaches the people and receives more choices from them in the future, then at that time, I will ensure that we create a proper pension reform plan that allows them to heal their pain."
He noted that regarding the National Assembly’s pension reform special committee, where structural reforms will be focused on discussing in the future, "We plan to form the committee with our party's younger generation and young lawmakers who will carry our party forward."
The previously passed pension law amendment includes a parametric reform plan that raises the national pension insurance premium rate from the current 9% to 13% and the income replacement rate from the current 40% to 43%. It also stipulates the stable and continuous payment of the national pension and includes measures to increase support for childbirth, military credits, and low-income groups.
However, there is strong internal backlash, citing that the increase in the income replacement rate will burden future generations. In the actual vote at the plenary session, 55 members of the People Power Party cast opposing or abstaining votes. The ruling party aims to promptly push for structural reforms that will change the framework of the pension system by linking the entire pension system in the National Assembly pension special committee. The committee, composed of a total of 13 members, has a deadline for activities until the end of this year.
Meanwhile, Kweon, the floor leader, regarding the "Demand for a special prosecutor investigation to investigate the truth behind the stock price manipulation case of President Yoon Seok-yeol's spouse Kim Keon-hee," which passed the National Assembly plenary session led by the Democratic Party and other opposition parties the previous day, said, "This is a law that undermines the objectivity, independence, and fairness of the investigation," and expressed confidence that "the government would never appoint a special prosecutor based on the claim of unconstitutionality."
On the 24th, regarding the constitutional court's decision on the impeachment trial of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, he said, "If the impeachment of Acting Han is dismissed, the Democratic Party must sincerely apologize to the people." He added, "I believe that the legislative dictatorship, administrative paralysis, and terrorism by the Democratic Party ultimately led to the cause of the president's declaration of martial law, so this aspect (in case the impeachment of Prime Minister Han is dismissed) will be an important consideration in the presidential impeachment trial."