Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, hinted at plans to reduce income taxes. On the night of the 18th, he shared a news article on Facebook titled “Tax Paid by Salaried Workers Exceeded 60 Trillion Won Last Year.” The article highlighted that last year’s income tax reached 61 trillion won, making up 18% of total taxes, marking a record high. Meanwhile, due to the economic downturn, corporate tax revenue decreased to a similar level of 62.5 trillion won.
In his post, Lee questioned, “Are salaried workers a cash cow?” He noted that “even if only nominal wages increase due to inflation, without a rise in real wages, taxes keep increasing due to the progressive tax system. While tax cuts are given to the ultra-wealthy, salaried workers are essentially facing a tax hike.”
He added, “Isn’t this something that should be addressed?” and asked for people’s thoughts on the matter.
On the same day, in an appearance on the YouTube channel ‘Sae-Nal,’ Lee remarked, “We are not progressive but rather hold a center-right position,” suggesting that “the progressive bloc needs to be newly established.”
He addressed the perception that the party has shifted to the right by saying, “The claim that we have moved to the right is a frame; we have always been in our original position,” asserting that “the Democratic Party has worked for economic growth and advancement, not just focusing on distribution.”