The people's livelihood in ruins… We must change the paradigm of economic management
Candidate Kim said, "Over the past four years, the people's livelihood economy has collapsed due to conglomerate-biased politics. We must change the paradigm of national economic management. That is economic democratization," and emphasized, "Moreover, what is important is that we must resolve the serious low birth rate problem through expanded investment in childcare and education."
Below is a Q&A; with candidate Kim Jin-pyo on major issues.
- As a two-term congressman currently serving as floor leader of the main opposition party, what are your strengths?
I am confident that I am the right person to pursue politics that revitalizes the economy and education.
I have served five times at the level of vice minister or higher, including Vice Minister of Economy and Vice Minister of Education. By leveraging 30 years of public service experience, I am a master of administration and policy expert who will establish and realize "sustainable and practical" policies for 99% of the common people more than anyone else.
When serving President Kim Dae-jung as Blue House policy planning director and National Coordination Director at the ministerial level, I demonstrated exceptional communication skills in coordinating differences between government departments and between ruling and opposition parties, earning the nickname "Mr. Tuner."
- As a two-term congressman, please tell us what you have accomplished.
The extension of the Bundang Line in the Yeongtong section to Mangpo Station will be completed within this year, and to Suwon Station next year. As a local congressman, I secured all the national budget funds required by Korea Railroad Facility Corporation.
Due to disputes between Suwon and Yongin over local funding share and route, and civil complaints resulting from delays in Green Cross factory relocation, construction was delayed, but we managed to shorten the construction period. Recently, six metropolitan railway projects in the Seoul metropolitan area have taken an average of 16.5 years, but the Bundang Line extension will be completed in 8 years.
I have focused on improving school environments to enhance educational standards in Yeongtong. I have worked tirelessly to expand school meal facilities, improve restrooms, install soundproofing walls, create grass athletic fields, build multipurpose halls, audiovisual rooms, and libraries.
I also opened the M5107 metropolitan express bus that goes to Gangbuk in Seoul to improve traffic conditions in Yeongtong. Going forward, I will establish new M bus routes starting from Yeongtong District Office, Taejang-dong, and Gwanggyo, and increase vehicle capacity on existing routes. I also plan to establish a new "membership bus" that operates during commute hours.
In particular, as a member of the National Assembly's Committee on Knowledge Economy, I feel great satisfaction in removing high-voltage transmission towers that have been eyesores and infringed on residents' property and health rights in Yeongtong. The underground project for transmission towers from Woncheoun-dong to Maetan-dong is entirely funded by KEPCO with over 2 billion won in budget. This is the only case of its kind in the nation.
The Mangpo-dong transmission tower, which was delayed due to the court-ordered receivership of a private construction company, will be handled by KEPCO and is expected to be completed by next year.
The Gwanggyo eco-friendly residential complex transmission tower will also be relocated, with construction beginning this year and completion next year.
- What are your main campaign pledges?
I will create Yeongtong with abundant jobs, Yeongtong as an education special zone, Metro Yeongtong with subways reaching all corners, Mobile Yeongtong, and Culture and Sports Yeongtong.
We must relocate Suwon Airfield and create a Korean-style Silicon Valley in connection with Samsung Electronics nearby to create Yeongtong with abundant jobs.
Gwanggyo Techno Valley, Samsung Electronics, and Suwon Airfield sites should create IT, NT, and semiconductor clusters, and by connecting Kyonggi University, Ajou University, Sungkyunkwan University to Seoul National University of Agriculture, the Rural Development Administration site and Suwon Airfield site with Hwaseong Hyungnam Pharmaceutical Complex, we should create bio and pharmaceutical clusters.
To create Yeongtong as an education special zone, I will establish a new autonomous public high school with dormitories. I will create "Metro Yeongtong" with Bundang Line, Shin-Bundang Line, and Shin-Suwon Line subways reaching all corners, and establish open-type WiFi zones on all city buses to create "Mobile Yeongtong." I will also develop Yeonghung Park as an ecological, cultural, and leisure space to create "Culture and Sports Yeongtong."
- Regarding the Shin-Suwon Line?
The key is that the Shin-Suwon Line (Indeogwon Line) starting from Indeogwon and connecting to Dongtan passes through Jangan-gu and goes through Yeongtong-gu. We plan to establish new stations at Kyonggi University, Provincial Government Office, Law Court intersection, Yeongtong District Office, and Mangpo.
To this end, as floor leader, through coordination with Congressman Lee Chan-yeol and others who are members of the National Assembly's Committee on Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs, we have secured 5 billion won in budget for feasibility studies and basic planning of the Shin-Suwon Line this year.
- Tell us about your welfare pledges and regional pledges.
As a top priority, I will realize half-price tuition to alleviate the suffering of 99% of the common people and middle class. To achieve this, I will enact the Higher Education Finance Distribution Law.
I will provide monthly allowances of 100,000 won for children under five years old, and provide free essential vaccinations for children under thirteen. For dual-income households, Saturday elementary childcare classes are also necessary.
In particular, to implement filial piety welfare for the elderly, I plan to double the current basic pension of 90,000 won per month and expand the eligible population. I will lower the age threshold for denture coverage from 75 to 65, and expand coverage to include partial dentures as well. We should designate Parents' Day as a national holiday, making it a day for children to visit their parents in filial devotion.
- Recently, identity issues emerged during the nomination process
I am confident that I am more reformist than anyone else in terms of willingness and direction for reform. During my 30 years of public service, I led legislation on the real-name financial system, real-name property system, inheritance and gift taxes, and comprehensive property tax.
During the foreign exchange crisis, I personally resolved 16 out of the top 30 conglomerates. Rather than merely talking about economic democratization and chaebol reform, I directly practiced it through action while minimizing side effects.
At times, I have even been evaluated as excessively progressive. For this reason, President Kim Dae-jung appointed me as Vice Minister of Finance and Economy, Blue House policy planning director, and National Coordination Director, and President Roh Moo-hyun valued me as Vice Minister of Economy and Vice Minister of Education, did he not?
I opposed the Korea-U.S. FTA under the Lee Myung-bak administration, which unilaterally conceded to U.S. demands, resulting in a significant collapse of balanced interests—a "bad FTA."
However, I simply adhered to my principle of not creating a National Assembly that the people hate most—one marked by physical confrontation—as the method of opposition. Although there are those who attack me with harsh profanities, I will humbly accept them as expressions of love and criticism urging me to do better.
I want to ask: if distorted facts are used to throw stones at me, who would benefit from it?
<Profile>
Name: Kim Jin-pyo (金振杓)
Education
Maesan Elementary (2 years), Seoho Elementary (graduated, 2nd class)
Suwon Middle School (graduated, 13th class)
Gyeongbok High School
Seoul National University College of Law
Master's degree in Public Policy, University of Wisconsin, USA (2 years)
Career
Vice Minister of Economy, Participating Government; Vice Minister of Education
Democratic Party Supreme Councilor; Floor Leader
Religion: Christianity
Family: Wife Shin Jung-hee; 1 son, 1 daughter
Age: 64 years old
Date of Birth: May 4, 1947
Hobbies: Mountain climbing, stationary cycling (health bike)
Life Motto: Do my best in any given environment
Favorite Book of My Life: "The Conquest of Happiness" by Bertrand Russell
Most Respected Person: Dasan Jeong Yak-yong
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