GNP chiefs to cancel tax cuts, reduce tuition

The ruling Grand National Party, led by newly elected chairman Rep. Hong Joon-pyo, has announced a reformative, “people-friendly” stance.

In the party workshop at the National Assembly on Sunday, the Supreme Council and the policy committee agreed almost unanimously to slash university tuition fees and reinforce regulations over conglomerates.

The plan also included overturning additional corporate tax cuts, which was a major economic motto of the Lee Myung-bak administration, thus reflecting the party’s determination to redeem itself after the crisis of the by-election defeat in April.

Debates were heated on the subjects suggested by policy chairman Lee Ju-young ― tuition cuts, the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, the North Korea human rights bill, corporate policies and the corporate taxes.

However, members reached a general consensus on most of the issues, according to the party’s spokesperson.

The Korea-U.S. free trade bill and the North Korean human rights bill are to be discussed during the August provisional session.

“There was little objection to a proposal to deal with the free trade bill and the North Korean human rights law within the August session,” said the spokesperson.

Other inter-party issues, such as the public broadcaster viewing fee hike, will also be dealt with in the August session, she said.

The council and the committee also confirmed that they will call off the planned tax cuts for corporations and reinforce conglomerate regulations, as was decided in the party’s general meeting earlier last month.

They also largely agreed to the policy committee’s plan to slash tuition fees by 30 percent by year 2014, though Reps. Yoo Seong-min and Na Kyung-won claimed that the benefits should be applied differently depending on the financial status of the students.

Hong added that the restructuring of the schools must take place before any detailed tuition plan takes place.

The party’s confirmation of such policies are in line with chairman Hong’s earlier pledges to focus on improving the people’s life.

“Our party shall practice conservative populism,” Hong said. “We shall also see that our plans are delivered to the government.”

By this, the newly elected leader hinted at his will to challenge Cheong Wa Dae, if necessary, to promote the people-friendly stance and to renew the party’s public image.

His moves were largely supported by other members of the Supreme Council, including reform-inclined Rep. Nam Kyung-pil, and also by floor leader Hwang Woo-yea and policy chairman Lee.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)