As criticism mounts over the government's tax reform plan, President Lee Jae-myung on the 11th joked to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Strategy and Finance Koo Yun-cheol, "People who handle taxes are bound to be cursed at when they change things. Just crawl around unconditionally."
He particularly stressed that the plan is currently in the "legislative stage," and noted that accepting counterarguments is part of the democratic process.
At a Cabinet meeting held that morning at the Government Complex Sejong, Lee emphasized that while ministries have differing views on the tax reform plan, communicating and making revisions is itself part of the "democratic process."
He said, "It is natural for ministries to have different opinions," adding, "It is a democratic process to freely present their views, then revise and reflect them through rational debate and discussion, and coordinate positions."
Referring to how the Minister of the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI) and the labor minister respectively expressed the "need" and a "cautious approach" over exceptions to the 52-hour workweek, he said, "Opinions that had not been coordinated among ministries were announced publicly, and there was criticism that this was off-key, a clash."
He continued, "In the past, what was criticized as backroom governance was to coordinate all internal opinions among ministries first and then only release finalized, settled positions to the outside and push them through," adding, "When you conduct open and transparent administration, people freely offer opinions from the initial discussion stage, the public also offers views, there is heated debate and argument, and through adjustment you eventually reach a certain conclusion. This process is originally the most democratic."
Lee said, "The reason we have separate ministries is so that each, with its expertise, can present positions in its field and then coordinate through meetings and such," adding, "If there are differences, the Office for Government Policy Coordination coordinates; if that's not easy, the prime minister coordinates; if that doesn't work, I do it; and if that really doesn't work, we hold a referendum. Through this process, we bring things together into a single position."
He also emphasized that it is at the "pre-announcement of legislation" stage, seemingly mindful of criticism from young people and investors.
Lee said, "(Pre-announcement of legislation) means this is the government's thinking on the bill, the result of our internal debate. But we hear our people's opinions on it," adding, "If there are counterarguments, it is desirable to accept them. Is it consistent to just go as is because it was decided once? That's not it."
He went on, "It's wrong if we do this, wrong if we go forward, wrong if we go backward, wrong if we stand still. So what are we supposed to do? Fly? In fact, that's telling us to disappear. When the very existence is disliked, that's how it's expressed," adding, "I hope that doesn't happen."
Lee also emphasized, "Policy is policy because there is room for debate and differing opinions," adding, "Matters that are clear and undisputed are called truth. This truth and policy are different."
Earlier, Lee, referring to the overhaul of individual savings accounts (ISA) that he ordered to be comprehensively reexamined and the "stock price suppression prevention bill," told the deputy prime minister, "Minister of Strategy and Finance, you should know this. People who handle taxes are bound to be cursed at when they change things," adding, "Those who benefit from the changes stay quiet, while those whose burdens increase develop tremendous resentment."
He then joked, "Just crawl around unconditionally," and Koo Yun-cheol replied with a laugh, "Got it."