A plan for establishing ‘Euljiro Committee’, which is the first promise of South Korean Government’s economic democracy, has practically been terminated. It is confirmed that Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has not made any progress after establishing relevant regulations and inquiring opinions from relevant departments more than a year ago. It seems that FTC is also accepting the fact that the plan has practically been terminated. Industries who have been expecting ‘Euljiro Committee’, which would include South Korean Government departments, police, and prosecutors, could not keep their sign of disappointment. Some are pointing out that South Korean Government’s will to solve ‘power and powerless’ problem has gotten weaker than before.
According to South Korean Government, FTC set up regulations regarding establishment and operation of ‘National Euljiro Committee’ on the 1st of August of 2017. It had gone through preliminary regulation inspection by The Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 3rd of the same month and it had inquired opinions from relevant departments from the 7th until the 16th.
It is heard that FTC’s proposed regulation includes basis for establishing Euljiro Committee. However, discussions for processing FTC’s proposed regulation have not made any progress still even though it is been more than a year since FTC came up with it. FTC also wrote that it has not made any progress since it had inquired opinions from relevant departments on ‘performance of state affairs’, which was submitted recently as a material for state audit. On the 18th of this month, South Korean Government held a meeting to examine and adjust current state affairs with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon at the chair and discussed about ‘checkup and future plans of state affairs regarding economic democracy’. However, an attendee of this meeting said that there was zero discussion about Euljiro Committee.
Because FTC’s proposed regulation is an executive order from President Moon Jae-in, South Korean Government can finalize and carry it out at a Cabinet Meeting regardless of consent from the National Assembly. This is the reason why some are saying that South Korean Government is purposely not pushing for establishment of Euljiro Committee.
Although FTC was initially saying that process of establishing ‘Euljiro Committee’ was getting delayed due to modification of committees under South Korean Government, now it is saying that it is practically difficult to implement Euljiro Committee. Because it has been more than a year and half since President Moon Jae-in was appointed, it is difficult for Euljiro Committee to gain momentum even if it is established now. “We are taking any approach regarding establishment of Euljiro Committee. There is not any order from above and it has practically come to a stop.” said multiple representatives for FTC.
One of the reasons why South Korean Government is terminating its plan to establish a new Euljiro Committee is because it may have overlapping roles with Euljiro Committee managed by The Minjoo Party of Korea, the opposing party. The Minjoo Party of Korea established Euljiro Committee in May of 2013 and is carrying out many projects to solve ‘power and powerless’ problem. Some also see that there are too many committees under President Moon and that this acts as an obstacle towards establishing a new Euljiro committee. While South Korean Government was working on modifying its committees last year, establishment of a new Euljiro Committee fell out of its priority.
Industries are criticizing South Korean Government to terminate its first pledge of economic democracy too easily. Although FTC has made some progress in solving ‘power and powerless’ problem and is operating Economic Democracy Team, its position and roles are weak compared to South Korean Government’s initial plan on Euljiro Committee. Actually, Economic Democracy Team is only limited to gathering and managing tasks regarding economic democracy from each department. “There were differences in opinions within South Korean Government regarding a need for establishment of a new Euljiro Committee.” said a representative for South Korean Government. “There were many who thought that it is possible to solve ‘power and powerless’ problem with just Euljiro Committee operated by The Minjoo Party of Korea.”
Staff Reporter Yoo, Seonil | ysi@etnews.com