President Lee Jae-myung Emphasizes Room for Revision Following Criticism of Tax Reform Proposal

[Anchor]

The government's stance that the tax reform proposal announced last week could be revised and supplemented has drawn criticism, with some calling it a "patchwork plan" and lacking consistency. Addressing this today (August 11), President Lee Jae-myung emphasized that finalized plans should not be pushed through unconditionally and that there is room for changes. The government's position is to actively reflect public opinions until the legislative notice period ends on the 20th.

For our first story, reporter Kang Min-u has the details.

[Reporter]

During a Cabinet meeting today, President Lee Jae-myung addressed criticisms—such as accusations that Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Koo Yun-cheol had created a "patchwork" or shown "inconsistency" by leaving the door open for modifications or supplements to the tax reform proposal—with the following remarks.

[President Lee Jae-myung: When presenting a proposal, the purpose is to listen to opinions. Naturally, there will be opposing arguments. If there are opposing arguments, it is desirable to accept them. Is it consistent to just say, 'We decided once, so we're going straight ahead'? No, that is not consistency.]

His remarks mean that it is only natural to announce a policy proposal, listen to feedback through legislative notice, and incorporate it.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Rather than presenting a finalized plan and unconditionally and unilaterally pushing it through, there is always room for modification when a plan is introduced.]

In particular, he asked where a 100% perfect plan that requires no revision could possibly exist, emphasizing that criticism for the sake of criticism only escalates conflict and fails to solve problems.

Deputy Prime Minister Koo responded that listening to public opinions during the legislative notice period until the 20th, and supplementing the plan through discussions in the National Assembly, is part of the process to enhance the completeness of the tax reform proposal.

[Koo Yun-cheol / Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economy: Please feel free to provide any opinions during the legislative notice period. We will modify and supplement them, and actively reflect them.]

President Lee also asked Deputy Prime Minister Koo to maintain a "humble attitude," noting that those who benefit from tax changes stay quiet, while those facing increased burdens harbor immense resentment.

[President Lee Jae-myung: Minister of Finance and Economy, you need to know this. Anyone who touches taxes is bound to be cursed at. So you must just crawl around unconditionally.]

President Lee presided over today's Cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Sejong. Stating that officials should do their utmost with the mindset of "holding the last Cabinet meeting in Sejong," he also expressed his commitment to realizing the era of the Sejong office during his term.

(Photo courtesy of Jeong Sang-bo and Yoon Hyeong | Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.