Choo vows to improve economy, avoids response on THAAD deployment

Choo vows to improve economy, avoids response on THAAD deployment. September. 08, 2016 07:27. by 한상준 기자alwaysj@donga.com.

The main opposition Minjoo Party of Korea on Wednesday appointed its lawmaker and former Finance Minister Kim Jin-pyo as chairman of the party’s “emergency economic special committee” for handling recent economic issues such as the crisis at the Hanjin Marine & Shipping Co. and surging household indebtedness.

A party official said that the decision was an “extension” of the party’s emphasis on people’s livelihood and economy, following the inauguration of the party’s new leader, Choo Mi-ae.

Choo also decided to set up a committee that would propose visions for the party’s taking power, as proposed by the party’s former leader Moon Jae-in, a major potential presidential candidate for the party. Song Young-gil, a party lawmaker who ran against Choo in the party’s primary for leadership, is said to be a likely candidate for the committee’s chairmanship.

Choo paid a courtesy visit to Lee Hee-ho, the widow of the late former President Kim Dae-jung, on Wednesday afternoon. Lee asked the Minjoo Party to help improve the economy and address the worsening inter-Korean relations. Choo replied, saying that her party should take power to take care of the people’s livelihood and promised to “do its best” to do so.

The new main opposition leader also met with leaders of residents in Gimcheon and Seongju, North Gyeongsang Province, who were protesting the plan to deploy the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) in their backyards. While the protesters’ committee asked the Minjoo Party to oppose the THAAD deployment as the party’s official position, Choo avoided giving a direct answer, saying she would “look for a proper timing.” Choo, who vowed to adopt an official position against the deployment of the U.S. missile defense system, has been taking a cautious attitude since being sworn in as the party’s leader.

“I agree 100 percent to the call on politicians never to use the THAAD issue for political purposes or for next year’s presidential election,” Choo said. “I will approach the issue only from the perspectives of the people’s lives, the country’s future and the creation of a reunification environment.