Kang Cheongwan: "Excess Tax Revenue from Semiconductor Boom Must Be Invested in Future Generations"

Presidential Chief of Staff Kang Cheongwan stated, "Excess tax revenue expected from the semiconductor boom must be intensively invested in projects for future generations."

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Ahn Gwi-ryeong reported through a written briefing that Chief of Staff Kang made these remarks during a meeting of senior secretaries held at the Blue House on the afternoon of June 22, adding that he "expressed the need for bold investment in discovering new growth engines to expand high-quality jobs."

During the meeting, Chief of Staff Kang proposed a broad discussion on fiscal reform tasks for future generations, pointing out, "If we do not change the piled-up problems out of fear of social controversy, the burden on future generations will grow uncontrollably."

He emphasized, "We must ensure that the current generation and future generations share the burden of state operations fairly, and we must find rational alternatives from the perspective of national interest and future generations to secure investment resources for them."

In addition, he requested that sufficient opportunities be guaranteed for future generations to participate directly in the policy-making process.

Furthermore, Deputy Spokesperson Ahn conveyed that Chief of Staff Kang strongly rebuked relevant departments regarding the death of a reservist in his 20s during training in Pocheon last month and a recent food poisoning incident at a reserve forces training center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, asking, "How would the country, the government, and the military feel to these young people?"

Chief of Staff Kang stated, "The places where young people go to dedicate their time and pause their livelihoods for the sake of the country and the community must not become places filled with distrust," and instructed the Office of the Secretary to the President for Defense and relevant departments to re-examine the entire reserve forces training system from scratch, including food service and hygiene.

Regarding the recent arrest of business owners in Jeollanam-do who assaulted and confined workers at a salt farm, Chief of Staff Kang remarked, "Labor exploitation and human rights abuses, similar to the salt farm labor rights violations in Sinan County that occurred in 2014 and 2021, have recurred in 2026," adding that he felt "miserable and ashamed."

He ordered relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, the Ministry of Employment and Labor, and the National Police Agency, to conduct a thorough investigation into the employment status of salt farms nationwide to check for similar cases and to prepare effective measures to prevent recurrence.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.