Choo asks Park to meet party leaders



By Kim Hyo-jin





The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea's new leader, Rep. Choo Mi-ae, speaks at the National Assembly, Tuesday. / Yonhap

The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea (MPK)'s new leader, Choo Mi-ae, said Tuesday the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system is "useless" in defending the country from North Korea's nuclear weapons.



She also described the government's decision to accept the U.S. anti-missile system as a diplomatic failure because China and Russia, the country's crucial partners in denuclearizing Pyongyang, will turn their backs on South Korea.



In addition, she urged President Park Geun-hye to meet party leaders for discussions on how to revitalize the economy.



Choo slammed the Park administration's economic fallout during her first speech at the National Assembly after being elected as the opposition party leader late last month.



Noting that the country is facing a low-growth trap and widening income polarization, she said talks between Park and party leaders can be a good chance to deal with these issues.



"The government and the Assembly should hold a practical view and join hands when it comes to improvement of people's livelihoods: I propose that we hold an emergency meeting to look into general economic issues that directly impact people's livelihoods," she said.



"We, opposition parties, will make daring concessions if it is needed in realizing cooperative politics."



The remarks are viewed as part of her efforts to take the initiative in the economic agenda in the lead-up to the presidential election next year, political pundits say.



The party has called for "economic democratization" since her predecessor Rep. Kim Chong-in was in power. It has vowed to narrow the income gap by increasing the net income of households and imposing higher corporate taxes.



Choo reiterated the need for income redistribution, arguing that the country's tax system, especially corporate tax, should be "normalized" to that end.



"The public has growing anger on the current taxation system; the tax on low and middle-income households has increased while the tax on conglomerates is kept low. This can't continue anymore," she said.



"It's time for the business sector to shoulder more burdens to revive the slumping economy," she argued, pointing out the country's 10 biggest firms' cash reserves exceed 550 trillion won while household debt is over 1,257 trillion won.



The MPK is seeking to raise the corporate tax rate from its current 22 percent to 25 percent, contending its benefit has not trickled down to employees while conglomerates sit on snowballing cash reserves. The percentage was cut from 25 to 22 percent under the previous Lee Myung-bak administration in 2009.



Touching on a controversial plan to deploy a THAAD battery, she maintained that the THAAD system cannot protect the safety of the people from the North.



The opposition leader criticized the government's decision, saying it has too many limitations to be a perfect countermeasure to the North's missiles while only undermining diplomatic relations with China and Russia.



"It is a diplomatic failure as it will induce China and Russia, necessary partners in our talks with Pyongyang, to turn their backs on us," she said.



The party had remained relatively neutral in views to a THAAD issue compared to other minor opposition parties. But its tone has changed since Choo, a strong opponent to the U.S. anti-missile system, replaced her predecessor Kim.