The article discusses the tension between the ruling party, People Power Party (PPP), and the opposition, Democratic Party, over previously agreed reforms and legislative matters in South Korea. The PPP criticized the Democratic Party for changing its stance on several issues that were supposedly settled, such as the pension reform and measures related to childbirth and military service credits.
A meeting was held involving key figures from both parties and the Health and Welfare Minister to discuss pension reform. The government and ruling party had agreed to expand childbirth credits significantly, as proposed by the Democratic Party. Last week, the parties also reached a tentative agreement to increase the pension contribution rate from 9% to 13% and the income replacement rate from 40% to 43%.
However, PPP policy chairman Kim Sang-hoon expressed frustration at the Democratic Party’s reversal on these agreements, urging them to cease what he called “vile politics” and return to sound decision-making. Kim’s irritation is echoed by PPP spokesman Park Hyeong-soo, who lamented the Democratic Party’s alleged inconsistency, questioning the purpose of making agreements if they are frequently altered.