Government Accountability Surges Amid Economic Issues

Concerns were raised that the process of building such infrastructure could lead to regional imbalances and conflicts between investment regions.

With the government's investment plans confirmed for 400 trillion won in the Yeongnam region and 300 trillion won in the Chungcheong region, there were concerns about a potential concentration of investment in specific areas. It was pointed out that if infrastructure investment is biased towards certain regions, it could deepen national imbalance and lead to feelings of alienation in other areas.

In response, Representative Lee Won-joo questioned how the government plans to resolve this issue. A demand was made for measures to reduce regional disparities and promote nationwide industrial development.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must plan balanced investments that consider the characteristics and potential of each region as it pursues the three-phase industrial transformation. In particular, it was suggested that a detailed roadmap should be established to prevent infrastructure construction from concentrating in specific regions.

The possibility of Apple using Chinese memory further highlighted the need to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic semiconductor industry.

The government is exploring ways to accelerate semiconductor production by bringing forward the operation of the Yongin Semiconductor Cluster. With 99% of the national industrial complex site acquisition complete, the government expressed its commitment to expanding production capacity through swift infrastructure development.

The National Assembly urged the government to establish a mid-to-long-term semiconductor industry nurturing strategy based on a realistic analysis of China's technological pursuit. In particular, it was suggested that support for advanced technology development and institutional support for expanding domestic production facilities should be strengthened.

The National Assembly pointed out that the current purchase subsidy scheme is inadvertently aiding the expansion of foreign electric vehicles in the market and could lead to hollowing out of domestic industries.

In response, Representative Lee Won-joo highlighted the limitations of purchase subsidies and proposed a shift to a production tax credit system. The logic is that production tax credits would benefit companies that manufacture electric vehicles domestically, thereby strengthening domestic industrial competitiveness. However, the Prime Minister explained that national subsidies are necessary in the initial stages, and a combination with production tax credits would be desirable once the industry matures to a certain extent.

The Prime Minister stated that a phased approach is needed, noting that production tax credits cannot be received if there is no profit. Nevertheless, he agreed on the necessity of policy changes to protect domestic industries and enhance competitiveness.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must establish a long-term development strategy for the domestic electric vehicle industry and thoroughly review the effectiveness of purchase subsidies and the introduction of production tax credits. In particular, it was suggested that policies should be readjusted to enhance the competitiveness of the entire domestic electric vehicle ecosystem.

It was revealed that an employee from the Prime Minister's Office asked questions without clearly identifying themselves at a press conference in Representative Han Dong-hoon's office, causing controversy. In response, the Prime Minister admitted it was inappropriate conduct for a public official and offered an official apology.

This incident escalated into 'surveillance allegations' against an opposition National Assembly member's office, raising public concern. The Prime Minister's Office stated that it would take measures regarding the employee and implement preventative measures to avoid recurrence.

The National Assembly questioned whether the President's will was properly reflected in the nominee vetting process.

The Prime Minister admitted that many allegations had been raised regarding the matter and explained that the nominee would have to explain them directly during the confirmation hearing. However, he adopted a cautious stance, stating that these were currently just allegations.

The opposition party raised doubts about the reliability of the government's personnel vetting system itself, beyond the moral issues of the ministerial nominee. The National Assembly demanded a thorough investigation into the stock manipulation allegations against nominee Kim Seung-won during the upcoming confirmation hearing.

In connection with this, the government was criticized for needing to strengthen the transparency and fairness of personnel vetting. In particular, voices grew louder that stricter standards should be applied to the moral integrity of high-ranking official nominees, as it is directly linked to public trust.

Concerns were raised that an investigation conducted without civilian participation could have limitations in uncovering the truth and might even fail. The National Assembly strongly demanded active intervention from the Prime Minister's Office and guaranteed participation of the bereaved families.

He warned that the public could experience a second humidifier disinfectant tragedy because the government has failed to implement its promise of prior repeated inhalation toxicity tests.

Allegations of favoritism from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, which granted corporate status to a threatening text message group, were also raised. Demands were made to resolve the tax evasion issue through joint crackdowns by the National Tax Service and Korea Customs Service, and to immediately implement measures to protect public health.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must strengthen regulations on the e-cigarette market and expedite taxation and toxicity tests for synthetic nicotine products. In particular, it called for strict enforcement against illegal tax evasion and the establishment of policies that prioritize public health.

In particular, it was argued that imposing heavy capital gains taxes on single homeowners who own but do not reside in their homes is unfair.

The setting of the long-term special deduction limit for capital gains tax at 1 billion won also sparked controversy. This was criticized as a punitive tax on successful individuals, with concerns raised that it could hinder the vitality of the housing market and stiffen asset mobility.

The National Assembly criticized the government for unilaterally pushing ahead with tax reforms without reflecting the reality of the housing market. It stated that, separate from regulations on multiple homeowners, the property rights and freedom of residential movement of single homeowners should not be excessively restricted.

The government explained that the purpose of this tax reform is to curb speculative demand and create a housing market centered on actual demanders. However, the National Assembly demanded practical effectiveness of the policy and reasonable tax policies that the public can understand.

In particular, there was a significant difference in the interpretation of the effect of reconstruction on increasing housing supply, with the government taking the stance that reconstruction contributes to supply expansion.

Criticism also arose that after the 9.7 measures, the private housing ecosystem was neglected due to the focus on public-centered supply. It was pointed out that while reconstruction could increase housing by 30-40%, revitalize cities, and improve living standards, government policy did not adequately reflect this.

The contradiction between the government's will to revitalize private supply and its loan regulations also became an issue. It was criticized that advocating for supply expansion while simultaneously strengthening loan regulations indicates a lack of policy consistency.

Representative Park Soo-min pointed out that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's failure in supply policy was leading to a 'triple strong' trend across northern Seoul and urged for more realistic supply measures. The National Assembly emphasized that the government must present a clear vision and implementation plan for housing supply.

This came with criticism to avoid a 'fantasy-like approach' to supply measures not based on reality, and instead formulate them based on concrete data. The demand grew for accurate information disclosure and communication with the public, rather than giving vague hope.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must ensure the reliability of housing supply policies by disclosing transparent information on current and future supply volumes and actively communicate with the public based on this. In particular, it called for practical measures to address supply imbalances by region and by period.

Representative Bok Ki-wang questioned the suspended operation of the preliminary planning consultative body between Seoul City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The consultative body was not operating due to differences in floor area ratio requested by Seoul City and the Ministry's stance, and in August, Seoul City stated that the consultative body could not operate because the Yongsan Park issue had not been resolved.

In response, the Prime Minister acknowledged the futility of the consultative body and promised to strengthen communication in the future. Concerns were raised that delays in coordinating opinions between the two sides could hinder the promotion of housing supply policies.

The National Assembly emphasized that smooth cooperation between Seoul City and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is essential to solve the housing supply problem. It was suggested that active mediation and dialogue efforts are needed to prevent actual housing supply from being delayed due to policy disagreements.

Representative Bok Ki-wang pointed out that during the Lee Myung-bak and Yoon Suk-yeol administrations, Seoul City enthusiastically welcomed and actively participated in greenbelt解除 (greenbelt解除). However, when the Lee Jae-myung administration mentioned expanding supply by解除ing some greenbelts in the Seoul metropolitan area, Seoul City''s stance suddenly changed, arguing that greenbelts must be protected for future generations.

This led to criticism of 'double-standard' administration, where the logic of greenbelt preservation changes according to political expediency. It was pointed out that the problem lies in changing policy stances based on the nature of the administration rather than the fundamental goal of solving the housing supply problem.

The National Assembly emphasized that Seoul City must pursue consistent housing policies and present a long-term vision for the greenbelt issue. It was suggested that transparent and rational standards are needed to prevent policy directions from being swayed by political circumstances.

Representative Bok Ki-wang raised the need to revise the mandatory green space ratio clause within the Yongsan Park Special Act and argued that plans for utilizing the unreturned U.S. military base in Yongsan should be re-examined in line with changing times. To this end, he proposed enacting a 'National Regeneration Special Act' and undergoing a process of public discourse.

The Prime Minister promised to review the content through a committee under the Prime Minister's Office. This showed a shared understanding that the Yongsan site could become a symbolic space for national regeneration, beyond just a park.

The National Assembly emphasized that considering the historical and future value of the Yongsan site, utilization plans should be sought from an integrated and long-term perspective rather than a fragmented approach. It was suggested that through the enactment of a special act, the site's full potential should be realized, and development directions should be set based on public consensus.

This proposal presented a new perspective on the utilization of the Yongsan site, going beyond the existing framework. With the government agreeing to review the proposal through a committee under the Prime Minister's Office, discussions on the future direction of the Yongsan site's development are expected to become more active.

Criticism of 'failing to fulfill one's role' within the opposition and even the ruling party, along with controversy over the privatization of appointments, is spreading.

Representative Gu Jak-geun asked the President if there was any intention to suggest the withdrawal of two ministerial nominees. In response, the Prime Minister emphasized that appointments are made through official channels and rejected the request to withdraw the nominations.

The National Assembly pointed out that the very suspicion that high-level official appointments could be swayed by a specific individual causes public distrust. It emphasized the need to establish a transparent and fair appointment system and demanded clear explanations regarding the related allegations.

Representative Bu Jwa-hyun criticized that the government's submitted data merely listed broad measures without specific implementation plans.

The Prime Minister's Office evaded a direct answer to the matter, showing a pattern of shifting responsibility between ministries. The National Assembly demanded transparent and clear plans for the execution of the semiconductor project budget, which will determine the nation's future.

Representative Han Sung-sook expressed concern about the negative impact of illicit address changes for speculative purposes on the local community and asked if the Prime Minister was aware of the situation.

In response, the Prime Minister admitted that he was not yet precisely aware of the facts. The issue of the government's lax oversight of speculative activities that occur during the promotion of large-scale national projects was pointed out.

The government's practice of classifying AI factories simply as real estate rental businesses was pointed out as a problem.

This led to criticism of the government's lack of awareness regarding AI industry development and the urgent need for practical support measures. The National Assembly emphasized the importance of the AI industry and called for active tax support measures.

Amid confirmed growth achievements for venture companies due to their designation as public procurement innovation products, the National Assembly questioned the government's policy direction for fostering the AI industry. The Prime Minister once again emphasized the government's commitment to nurturing domestic AI semiconductor companies such as Rebellions and FuriosaAI.

The Prime Minister mentioned that these companies must achieve global competitiveness and grow. A proposal to host GTC Korea to attract global investment was also made. This was presented as a way to promote the technological capabilities of domestic AI companies worldwide and attract investment.

The National Assembly urged the government to establish the AI industry as a future growth engine and actively support the technological development and global market entry of domestic companies. In particular, it was suggested that bold investments in early-stage venture companies and deregulation are needed to vitalize the AI ecosystem.

Yes, I believe it must be so, and we must make it so.

It was pointed out that the current disaster relief funds are insufficient compared to the cost of flood damage restoration. Despite being declared a special disaster zone, residents are facing difficulties due to inadequate actual damage compensation. The Prime Minister acknowledged that while he acted quickly by visiting the scene, there were limitations due to regulations setting specific amounts.

Measures were also urged for victims in shipyard subcontracting companies and those in insurance blind spots. It was raised that these individuals are in the blind spot of the current disaster relief system, making it difficult for them to receive substantial compensation.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must comprehensively review the disaster compensation system, increase realistic support funds, and formulate policies to address blind spots. In particular, it was suggested that institutional improvements, such as enacting special laws, are needed to ensure sufficient compensation for those who have lost their livelihoods due to disasters.

The National Assembly criticized the lack of consistency in policy and the market confusion it caused.

The issue of increased volatility and investor losses after the introduction of single-stock leveraged ETFs also became a point of contention. The Prime Minister expressed regret that the public was experiencing inconvenience, contrary to the original intent.

Regarding the demand for a parliamentary investigation, the Prime Minister expressed empathy, recognizing it as a livelihood issue. However, criticism continued that a thorough review of the financial policy implementation process and its impact on the market was needed.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must establish policies by prioritizing financial market stability and investor protection. In particular, it was suggested that trust should be built through sufficient review and communication with the market, rather than hasty policy introduction.

This once again highlighted the problem of high foreign dependence on core shipbuilding technologies.

In response, the government announced plans to promote the ordering of Korean-type cargo tank ships for technological self-reliance. The strategy is to accelerate technology verification and commercialization by ordering ships equipped with domestically developed cargo tanks.

The Vice Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy anticipated the possibility of foreign companies filing lawsuits and employing appeasement strategies against Korea's move toward technological self-reliance, emphasizing the need for a joint public-private response. The necessity of strengthening legal and diplomatic response capabilities, in addition to technology development, was raised.

The National Assembly urged the government to provide full support for self-reliance in core technologies for the continuous growth of the domestic shipbuilding industry. In particular, it was suggested that institutional and financial support should be strengthened to ensure the successful establishment of Korean-type LNG cargo tank technology.

This aims to provide stable housing environments and encourage private sector participation in long-term rental housing supply.

A suggestion to expand incentives for public housing developers was also made. It was argued that various incentives should be provided to increase the efficiency of public rental housing projects led by the government.

The Prime Minister promised to specifically review the proposal and visit the site. There was a shared understanding that the government's active review is necessary, as expanding long-term rental housing supply can contribute to stabilizing housing for common people.

The National Assembly emphasized that the government must devise practical measures to encourage private and public participation to revitalize the long-term rental housing market. In particular, extending rental periods and expanding incentives were evaluated as having a positive long-term impact on housing stability.

It was pointed out that cross-subsidization and direct development, which are fully possible within one entity, become problematic and require convoluted processes if the entity is split.

Difficulties in meeting supply targets relative to public institution personnel were also expressed. It was noted that issues of personnel shortage, along with organizational division, could actually hinder public housing supply.

In response, the Prime Minister promised to seek ways to improve organizational efficiency and performance. There was a consensus that LH should continue to strengthen its leading role in public housing supply.

The National Assembly emphasized that the LH spin-off should be approached cautiously to avoid undermining its primary role of public housing supply. It was suggested that a thorough review of both the potential positive effects and potential side effects of organizational restructuring is necessary.