People Power 2017

This month of PSPD

As a season changes by the natural order, the wind starts to get chilly. People usually call the autumn the time of ‘the sky is high and clear and horses grow fat and sturdy’. Here is another idiom referring horses ‘Pushing horses to a greater speed’. Activities of PSPD last month was like whipping horses to run faster. Wishing for the government and the National Assembly not to miss what citizens hope for democracy, justice and peace, PSPD has been busy with urging what have to be urged, and checking and criticizing powers and groups which obstruct reform process. Followings are what PSPD has done last month.

Call for plaintiffs for damage and compensation lawsuit against unfair employment at Gangwon Land

Unjust employment scandal at Gangwon Land revealed last September made many people angry. In cooperation with youth groups, PSPD has reported Kwon Seong-dong and Yeom Dong-yeol of Liberty Korea Party on 27 September for the charge of inappropriate solicitation for employment. Prosecutors have already set their hands to reinvestigate the case but it is to give pressure for proper investigation.

Furthermore, PSPD has called for plaintiffs from 18 October who will file for damage and compensation against Gangwon Land. Applications will be received till the second week of November and it is open to people who had applied for High One trainee at the 1st job opening in 2012 and the 2nd in 2013. In addition to giving criminal punishment to the people who requested unfair employment and who were hired by that solicitation, those employers will be also asked for civil responsibilities for breaking the faith of job applicants who believed recruitment process would be fair. Please contact PSPD if you would like to take part in the legal action. 

Completed relaying legislation request to reform Election Law 

PSPD has been working for a long time to adopt mixed-member proportional voting system which allocates seats according to votes gained by party for the purpose of expanding freedom to expression of voters and rights to vote. This year, PSPD has formed ‘Joint Action for Political Reform’ with various social organizations and taken the charge of major clerical works.

Relaying legislation request made by various fields of our society started on 11 September and ended with women activists on 17 October. During the period, followings have been demanded. △ Make a law to give a right to vote to age 18 and straw vote △ Mixed-member proportional voting, Improve local election system △ Lower down age of eligibility for election and give quota to the youth △ Adopt mixed-member voting system for local councils △ Permit local parties and secure proportional seat allocation in local election △ Secure basic political rights to teachers and public servants △ Adopt mixed-member proportional voting, Secure transparency of political fund.

PSPD has participated in ‘Meeting for Public-Politic solidarity to reform election law’ on 27 September. Lawmakers from four major parties except Liberty Korea, and civil and social organizations came together for the discussion and agreed to put effort to adopt mixed-member proportional voting system. Participants include Lee Jong-geol and Kim Du-gwan of the Minju, Jeong Dong-young and Chun Jeong-bae, Park Ju-hyun of the People’s Party, Jeong Yang-seok of the Bareun Party and Sim Sang-jeong and Chu Hye-seon of the Justice Party. 

One year since Candle Civil Revolution began

As of 29 October, it became one year since outraged citizens at Park Geun-hye and Choi Sun-sil’s monopolizing national administration began to hold candles. For the first five months until impeachment of the president was decided, what the people have shown have impressed all of us and left in our hearts. Having the first anniversary of candle civil revolution, ‘Candles do not stop’ events and rallies were held on 28 October at Seoul Gwanghwamun Square by ‘Committee to commemorate records of action to dismiss’ succeeding ‘Action to dismiss’ which had looked after preparation and rallies of candle revolution. 

People’s Constitutional Revision Net held a discussion inviting advisors of Special Committee for Constitutional Revision

PSPD has established People’s Constitutional Revision Net (People Leading Constitutional Revision Network) on 12 October in collaboration with civil and social organizations and currently 119 organizations are participating nationwide.

Special Committee for Constitutional Revision in the National Assembly has been talking about ‘Public oriented constitutional revision’ and had toured provinces holding ‘National Forum’ but not in a way for ordinary citizens to conveniently participate. In addition, free speak out platform for constitutional revision was set up just at one corner of the National Assembly. Especially last February, the Committee did not accept advisors’ report drafted and submitted by 53 advisors from 6 departments and even refused to disclose the contents in despite of advisor groups were formed by the committee itself in order to listen different and broad opinions. Therefore, People’s Constitutional Revision Net has invited the advisors and held a discussion ‘Direction and issues of People Leading Constitutional Revision’ at 10am on Wednesday 18 October at a conference room of National Assembly Members Hall. Head of Policy Team gave a designated discussion.

Published employment status of retirees from financial authorities

There is a system to restrict and examine employment of retired public servants in order to prevent unjust acts or deal of public servants due to retire from giving favors to a company or organization for the purpose of getting a position after retirement, and to block possibility to exercise improper influence to government or public organizations. However, some point out restriction is too loose.

On 18 October, PSPD has released <Employment status of retirees from Ministry of Planning and Finance, Financial Service Commission and Financial Supervisory Service from 2011 to 2017>. From June 2016 to June 2017, 48 retirees were screened for eligibility of getting a position at financial or related institutes and 43, that is 90% received approval.

Peace actions to stop arms trade

Seoul ADEX (International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition) was nicely wrapped with air show, aerobatic flights, future-oriented weapons made by cutting-edge technology, events and exhibitions but the true face was homicide weapon market. Behind roaring sound of air show, there were arms traders from all over the world and autocratic states and countries at war were not exception.

‘Protest Actions against ADEX’ which PSPD and other peace organizations worked together described ADEX as below. International Aerospace and Defense Exhibition which is held from 17 to 22 October is named ADEX by Seoul Airport. The title sounds good but it is an exhibition of high-tech weapons.

PSPD picketed “Death Market ADEX, Stop war trading” on 16 October at a welcome reception which was held for arms traders. It also organized a lecture ‘Growth of Korean defense industry’ on the 18 and promotion campaign on 21 October at ADEX Exhibition entrance, Seongnam Seoul Airport for citizens who had visited the arms exhibition.

People Power! 
This month of PSPD

How was your new year? PSPD has tried to be with citizens who hit the streets and squares in spite of cold. The first candle rally has started on 29 October last year and the Constitutional Court is going to make a decision near at hand. However, people want a perfect victory not noncommittal decision. Restoration of the democracy and enhancing people’s sovereignty are musts. Park Gen-hye, Choi Sun-sil, Lee Jae-yong and such powers must be punished and deep rooted dark era should be cleared. People are longing for new days in which democracy and ordinary people are alive to breathe. 

Hence, PSPD has done its best to be together with citizens hit the streets and squares last January and February because we are the one who have to and will make new days for the people.

  
PSPD submitted a written opinion on the impeachment to the Constitutional Court.

PSPD has submitted a written opinion to the Constitutional Court on 22 February urging to uphold impeaching the President Park swiftly. The first ground is the violation of duty to protect lives of the people and the safety. The president takes a responsibility and a liability as a head of crisis management to place all capacity to rescue people and direct every single situation but Park has failed to give specific orders and appropriate measures to settle emergency situation where 476 lives were at stake. In addition, she neither played a role as a control tower desperately needed nor move, control, direct to mobilize resources the government and private organizations have. There were little work done to judge the situation and prepare for appropriate measures based on collecting and analyzing data which are mandatory for handling large scale accidents.

Secondly, the president Park has accepted bribes from Samsung and made deals with Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung Electronics. The written opinion argues that it is an abuse of power and privatizing the public authority given by the people and violation of constitutionalism. She has destroyed integrity of public officers and fairness in executing official duties. Furthermore, directly and indirectly involving in succession of Samsung group management and influencing its process and outcomes have damaged and threatened the economic order which is based on the order of market economy stated in the Constitution. PSPD also criticized the defense counsel of Park who tried to delay the decision on the impeachment trial and strongly demanded to finalize it to uphold before Lee Jeong-mi, a constitutional judge to retire.

Forum on problems and solutions for forced THAAD deployment 
Seongju and Kimcheon of Kyungbuk province have kept protesting against THAAD deployment and many people worrying about South-North Korea relationship and peace in Asia have been carrying out Anti-THAAD movement without wavering. One of the main slogans shouted at candle rallies started on 29 October last year was ‘No THAAD deployment’. Nevertheless, the National Assembly and the politics arena haven’t responded disappointing the people care for the peace. Hence, PSPD has held a forum on 16 February to discuss problems and solutions for forced THAAD deployment in cooperation with ‘People’s action against THAAD deployment’. It reviewed whether approval of the National Assembly is required to deploy THAAD in terms of the Constitution and verified contents of the agreement between Korea and the US. It also checked if there has been any illegality in the process and discussed roles of the National Assembly facing the deployment pushed forward by the Park government. 

Will stop insufficient legislation, punitive damage compensation system
The subcommittee for Bill Review under the National Policy Committee of the National Assembly agreed to adopt punitive damage compensation system for the Product Liability Act which imposes a manufacturer to compensate up to three times to the life, body or property of a person caused by a defect of a product. Unfortunately, three times compensation would not serve the purpose because punitive damage compensation does not provide sufficient compensation to victims of illegal acts and it is not strong enough to alarm and prevent similar wrongful conducts. Therefore, PSPD has requested to enact punitive compensation system on 21 August last year which does not set upper limit of compensation by law in order to prevent reoccurrences in case of damage to life and body by intention or serious faults. 
According to government data as of 9 February 2017, 5,432 victims and 1.131 death caused by humidifier disinfectant have been reported. Despite of seriousness, the National Assembly has not prepared proper measures yet. The National Policy Committee of the National Assembly must stop adopting three times compensation instantly. Concerning anti-social, irresponsible and illegal conducts infringe life and body of a person by intention or serious faults such as Oxy disaster, PSPD urges the committee to re-consider it to adopt punitive compensation without set upper limit so that the purpose of the system can give effects.
 
 
Permanent special prosecutors

that is, an investigation bureau for corruption of high ranked government officers required 

Park Young-su, a special prosecutor has received a warm support from the public because he is doing a great job as a special prosecutor. Arresting Kim Ki-choon, Cho Yoon-sun and Lee Jae-yong is something no one has ever done for the last several decades and ordinary prosecutors could never imagine to do so. What made this possible? The answer is ‘Special Prosecutors’ who are independent from current powers and the prosecutors. Then, how about establishing a permanent special prosecutor agency which would always watch, check and investigate the power, authority and high ranked officers closely?  That is, investigation bureau for corruption of high ranked government officers as you all know. Reforming Chaebol, prosecutors, the press and politics is what candle rallies think the most important and one of core tasks to achieve it is the establishment of an investigation bureau.

Demand to amend poisonous clauses of the National Election Law
Do you remember oppression against the General Election Net last year that offices of PSPD and the Civil Society Organizations Network in Korea, and residents of activists were seized and searched? 22 activists of the Net have been unfairly prosecuted by the Park government and their trial is underway. The second and third trial took place on 2 and 3 February and the fourth one will be held in March. Besides legal struggle to prove that fair movements of voters are innocent, PSPD is trying to change poisonous clauses of the National Election Law which provides a ground to prosecute the Net.

It has made card news pointing out problems that the Law is filled with ‘not allowed’, and carried out signature collecting and candle rallies demanding the amendment. Park Geun-yong, deputy secretary general and Cho Sung-dae, head of National Assembly Watch Center of PSPD have written columns in the press suggesting revision of the law which forces people to keep silence. A National Assembly discussion was held in respect to the reform on 15 February. Taking this opportunity, we could hope for removal of poisonous clauses which blocks the freedom of expression and the right to participation of voters. In addition, it would be good to lower down the legal voting age to 18 and older and adopt final voting and mixed-member proportional voting system. PSPD will move actively this year to reform the Election law.
 

PSPD English Newsletter, December 2015

Happy participation, Heartwarming solidarity _ This month of the PSPD

● Fighting against tenacious interruptions for activities to find the truth of Sewol Ferry disaster
▶ The Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries has drawn a document [How to respond to issues related to the Special Investigation Committee for Sewol Ferry] and distributed it to committee members recommended by the leading party to take collective actions. When the Special Committee tried to investigate whether Chengwadae handled the situation properly, leading party side members held a press conference and threatened to resign as directed in the document. In the line with the 416 Solidarity activities, PSPD instantly criticized such political behavior and urged to reveal how and why the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries composed such shocking document. PSPD keeps monitoring activities of the Special Committee by hearing meetings and continues civil discussion ‘They could be saved’ in regions. The Special Committee is planning to hold hearings in December so that the 416 Solidarity has started to organize things that should be proved through hearings. 

● Freedom to assembly is blocked by vehicle walls and hidebound
▶ PSPD has collected and submitted signatures of members and citizens to the Prosecutors wishing for Baek Nam-ki to get well soon who felt in coma after being stroke by water cannon of the Police and urging for complete investigation concerning an abuse of public powers. It also sent contents of the report to the press and spread it out on SNS which was written and sent by the government to the UN insisting that freedom to assembly was fairly secured. In prior to this, UN reviewed human rights status in Korea at the consideration of freedom of rights and adopted unprecedentedly powerful recommendations to ensure not only freedom of peaceful assembly but also improving various human rights violations including discrimination against sexual minorities and immediate release of all conscientious objectors. Since PSPD has contributed to adopting recommendations, it has written columns and distributed press release about its contents and meanings, and gained good responses.

● Last general session of the 19th National Assembly, Pass livelihood related bills before too late!

▶ PSPD is concentrating on activities for the National Assembly to swiftly handle and pass livelihood related bills. In the meeting with the New Politics Alliance for Democracy and the Justice Party, PSPD urged followings for priority; a revised Franchise Business Act, a revised Housing Lease Protection Act to ease house rent and lease problems, a special bill for designating small and medium business, a bill to regulate chabeol owned shopping complex and adoption of young employment quota for private conglomerates. It also requested to pass a revision of Telecommunications Business Act which would eliminate a basic charge to reduce mobile communication cost and a revision of Device Distribution Act to remove bubbles in device cost. 

▶ The Tripartite agreement made on 15 September already asks great sacrifices of the labor. However, the government and Saenuri party are still trying to pass a revised Labor Act which is much more retrograded than 9.15 agreement. Therefore, PSPD has asked the people to vote on government’s labor policy and held a press conference with civil and social organizations to raise voices to demand abolition of a revised Labor Act.  

● Urging Fair Taxation and Resisting against reducing welfare for the weak

▶ Despite of state’s debt increasing like a snowball and lack of tax income, the government and the leading party do not show even a little intention to secure budget from fair taxation. PSPD urged the National Assembly at revising taxation discussions to resolve five big tasks for fair taxation, specifically adjusting corporate tax rate to the ordinary level, applying cumulative rate on capital gain tax, reconsidering ISA (Individual Savings Account) which risks special treatment in taxation favorable for the rich, taxing religious persons and strengthening taxation on free transfer of the wealth.
  

▶ Regional welfare projects are in danger to be reduced or abolished because the government is demanding regional government to organize similar and duplicated welfare projects. Projects to be reconsidered include not only living cost subsidiaries for sex slave victims for Japanese Military which was controversial but also welfare expenditures for securing the right to live and for the weak of our society such as health insurance for the poorest, supporting activities of the disabled, house heating cost for the disabled and the low income households and helping homeless.

▶ While the National Assembly is discussing a proposed bill for privatizing medical industries, concerns are raised that the bill would let the public health on a hand of market which pursues commercial profits. PSPD is collecting voices of opposition against a bill of the Service Industry Development and the International Medical Business Support which the government intends to pass to achieve medical industry privatization. It also brings the issue to the public regarding human clinical testing which is publicized as a sweet casual job for low income families.

● Politician never voluntarily reform  
▶ The National Assembly failed to decide constituency by legal deadline and the Political Reform Special Committee extended its mission period. After having activities of ‘Political Reform Civil Solidarity’, PSPD has demanded to place a priority in seat distribution according to votes earned and increasing proportionate representation but Saenuri Party on the contrarily, tries to increase regional and reduce proportional representation. Therefore, PSPD and civil groups held a press conference and picketing demonstration requesting lawmakers to stop changing the election law to backwards and work for political reforms. Furthermore, they placed an advertisement with the support and donations of citizens. It is very regret to accept but we should stop politicians and giant political parties from retrograding before asking them to reform. They never change for the better by themselves. 

● Claps and thanks to whistle blowers for public interests! 
▶ According to inspection of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, corruptions were found in Hana high school entrance exam. The school attempted to punish a teacher Jeong Kyeong-won who revealed the fault and one person demonstration asking the school to stop unfair retaliation was held in front of the school. PSPD is preparing a yearly event <2015 Whistle Blowers for public interests and Righteous Citizen Awards> for the purpose of supporting and encouraging whistle blowers for public interests. They try to disclose corruptions and injustice in our society to keep safety and rights of the public but sometimes become a victim of isolation, punishment and dismissal.  

● Sending out Troops does not bring the peace

▶ The National Assembly is reviewing to enact the Dispatch Troops to Overseas Act which the Ministry of Defense has tried for a long time. Even though Korea already has the Peacekeeping Operation Participation Act and the Emergency Relief Act, the Ministry wants this Act to justify overseas dispatch regardless of purposes whether commercial or emergency relief. Korea has actively participated in the US leading anti-terror war by sending out large scale of troops and consequently, inordinate terror forces such as IS has grown. As PSPD has strived to stop enactment of Dispatch Act, it has made card news to inform citizens telling problems of the bill and continued activities to stop enactment. Meanwhile, agendas to extend troops to UAE and Cheonghae Unit to Somalia are being requested. The troop to UAE is unconstitutional because they are sent for a commercial reason, receiving nuclear power plant orders. The reason for a dispatch to Somalia is said to be to protect vessels from pirates but in fact there are none near the Gulf of Aden. The intention of the Ministry of Defense is impure and the National Assembly has been negligent and failed to control dispatch matters properly. Hence, PSPD has presented a statement to reject extension of dispatch period and sent it to the National Defense Committee members.

▶ Myanmar is heading to end long-term military dictatorship. Activists of civil society including PSPD have participated in Myanmar election as an inspection group. They organized ‘Wind of democracy in Myanmar’ to share live stories of historic election sites and talked about the future of Myanmar. 

● The Youth PSPD starts its sailing
▶ The Youth PSPD has established last month. In cooperation with the Institute of Participatory Society, a forum was held on 4 November to discuss worries of current youth activities and roles in the Korean society. It was also a venue to share activities between the Youth PSPD and the Youth Community Union, the Union Slug and the Youth Government Network of Seoul Metropolitan City. It has requested the National Assembly on 17 November to revise the Higher Education Act to limit college entrance fee to actual costs and not to levy tuition fee to tertiary students who postpone a graduation. 

People Power 2017
This month of the PSPD
 

It is April which is in the interim of March, the president Park was impeached for monopolizing national administration and May, and a new president will be elected. We should keep the fever and the flow of candle light civil revolution started last October to make a good nation and a society.

Declaration of Rights of Candle light announced

Impeaching a president does not simply make a nation and a society brand new. Civil forums were held throughout the nation both in small and large scale to discuss how to build a new society while candle rallies filled the streets in January and February protesting against Park Geunhye-Choi Sunsil gate and demanding the resignation of the president. Holding a general discussion of citizens is another activity that PSPD has put efforts on besides carrying out successful candle rallies as a major participating organization for ‘Emergency People Action for Park Administration to step down’. 

<2017 Korea, be prosperous> a general civil forum was held at Changchung gymnasium on 18 February and more than 1,500 citizens participated to talk about declaration of rights of candle light. As a working organization, PSPD has organized opinions of citizens and developed them into a declaration till early March in cooperation with other civil organizations and voluntary activists. <Declaration of Rights of Candle light> was announced on 11 March, the next day President Park was impeached after having a Scheme Committee composed of 50 members recommended by each group of the forum confirmed the draft, and main contents were as follow. △ Candle rally is an action of sovereign to reform representative democracy and advance direct democracy △ Candle rally is a direct action of sovereign that does not tolerate abuse of public power for a previliged group △ Candle rally is a legitimate protest against all kinds of discrimination and inequality which bear corruptions and privileged power △ Candle rally is a judgment for the power which oppress conscience and freedom to expression, and control the press, and for the press who cooperate. Full text of the declaration can be found in website of PSPD.   

Peace Action Day and Peace Bus, protests against THAAD

Process of adopting Anti-ballistic missile system THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) is forcibly pushed forward for the US army residing in Korea to use. The US seems to think that a new government elected by upcoming presidential election would take different policy from Park Geun-hye administration. By bringing THAAD equipment in Korea without a notice, they asked for criticism of attempting holdout. Hence, peace buses headed to Seongju in Kyungbuk province on 18 March from all around the nation. More than 5,000 citizens gathered in to commence <Taking Peace Steps for total withdrawal of THAAD deployment plan>. PSPD joined in as a leading organization for ‘National Action for No THAAD deployment in Korea’.

An urgent petition <National Assembly should stop stubborn THAAD deployment> was carried out for 10 days from 16 to 26 March. It demanded △ National Assembly to request jurisdiction dispute and provisional disposition to suspend regarding forced THAAD deployment by government △ National Assembly to vote to impeach Han Min-gu, a defense minister who has impelled THAAD deployment violating the Constitution and laws.
 

Policy proposal and Voter’s campaign for ‘Refresh Korea’
A presidential election is just a process of selecting a person who will accomplish jobs of a president. It is a chance to collect desires of citizens for a new nation and a government, and reflect them in national policies and assignments. PSPD has worked hard to make a better society and it is trying to take upcoming presidential election as an opportunity to realize it. 

Therefore, PSPD has released <Can you call it a nation? PSPD’s policy suggestions for the 19th Presidential Election> on 27 March for voters and presidential candidates to hear. There are three core agenda which all candidates are hoped to adopt; reform of election law which does not reflect people’s opinions, reform of prosecutors who obey the Blue House and reign over the people, and income security to support basic livelihood. 

PSPD is doing its best to check and analyze major election promises of presidential candidates from each party. In cooperation with Hankook daily, it will inquiry and exam promises whether they look rosy only on surface and if implementation plan is clear. Inquiry letters asking stances and promises on important sectors have been sent to candidates since 23 March and answers are being received and analyzed.    
 

“Let’s change the Election Law before the presidential election”
Convention for Declaration of the People and National Action Day

PSPD held ‘Declaration of the People for the National Election Law reform’ on 15 March in front of Sejong Cultural Center front stairs and argued that the first agenda after impeachment of the president is to reform the Election Law. Participants requested to secure voters age to 18 years and older, and improve the law because it currently controls and punishes expressions and actions of voters which may influence the election for maximum 180 days prior to a vote. In order to increase representation and reflect voter’s choice and voices, it asked to adopt mixed member proportional representation to allocate seats by votes on a party, and runoff voting for presidential election. After declaration was announced, more than 100 participants marched to Bosin Bell in Jongno.

On 22 March, ‘Simultaneous National Action Day demanding reform of the National Election Law’ was held. In Seoul, one person demonstration was carried out in front of each party office; the Minju, People’s Party, Bareun Party and Liberty Korea and candidates including Moon Jae-in, Ahn Hee-jeong, Lee Jae-myung, Ahn Cheol-su, Yoo Seung-min and Nam Kyung-pil. Civil and Social organisations have taken their parts in that press conference and one-person demonstration took place urging the reform of the law at more than 30 locations. 
 

Published comprehensive report on prosecutors during four years of Park Geun-hye government
PSPD has published a report on prosecutors of Park Geun-hye government every year and ‘Deprived justice, sunken prosecutors’ a comprehensive report for four years of her administration has released in the last week of March. The title of the first year report was ‘Prosecutors, failed to reborn as prosecutors for the people’ and the second one was named ‘Political Prosecutors, falling deeper into swamp of abnormality’. The third one was called ‘Prosecutors, serve the power and reign over the people.

For the purpose of reforming prosecutors, it is necessary to record faults and status, and let them remembered. Thus, PSPD published <Report on prosecutors during five years of Kim Dae-jung government at the end of his administration. No report was made for Noh Moo-hyun since reform didn’t seem quite necessary. However, publishing reports resumed in Lee Myung-bak government.

PSPD has fully recorded how prosecutors haven’t hidden their true face as political prosecutors serving the blue house during four years of Park Geun-hye government. How they have abused and misused their powers but negligent to investigate current powers are precisely written. Expenses to print and distribute reports were covered by online contribution of citizens. Prosecutor reort is available on website of PSPD.     

Court confirms to support a request to disclose security education movie which has shocked primary school students
On 9 March, the Supreme Court upheld PSPD’s demand to withdraw a decision of the Defense Ministry to reject to disclose patriot education movie. The ground of the lawsuit happened in 2014 when the Defense Ministry executed security education for primary school students under the name of ‘patriot education’. The movie made for this had to stop playing because students fell in shock while watching it. 

According to authorities, the movie seemed to be made to implant unconditional patriotism and hostility to North Korea. The Ministry seemed to fear for criticism that refused to disclose the movie. Therefore, PSPD has submitted a formal request for information disclosure in order to check contents and the truth of the security education. The Ministry has refused it so that PSPD has filed a lawsuit in August 2015 against the Ministry’s decision not to disclose. At the first and the second trial, court said decision of not to disclose violated the law. In one year and seven months from the start of a legal action, the Supreme Court confirms to support PSPD. 

The Defense Ministry argued that opening the education movie would damage national security since the movie tried to raise hostility to North Korea. However, the Court accepted PSPD’s argument that it is vague to judge damages and interests on the national security when movie is disclosed while social review and discussion regarding security education status seemed necessary for public interest. The next action will be taken upon recipe of the movie from the Ministry. Taking this opportunity, it is required to improve ingrained and irrational decision of not to disclose information of the Defense Ministry. 
 

Run PSPD, Fly Democracy!

This month of PSPD

January and February are the period PSPD prepares for a general meeting reviewing past activities and planning for a new year. Naturally external activities and meetings are held at a minimum. Not much as candle protest for impeaching Park Geun-hye was held but PSPD has been very busy since early this year. The keywords of current activities include #Lee Myung-bak, #Lee Jae-yong, #Investigation Agency for High-Ranking Public Servants #PyeongChang Peace Olympic #Recruitment Corruption #Housing Benefit #Paris Baguette # Minimum Wage and #Constitutional Revision.

Investigate a former president Lee Myung-bak as soon as possible

Illegal acts and corruptions of another former president get released every day. One of core issues is who the real owner of DAS is. PSPD has reported Lee and others related last December and provided grounds suggesting Lee Myung-bak is the real owner of DAS. In addition, it presented an issue report criticizing poor investigation conducted by prosecutors and special prosecutors for the last eleven years. PSPD will urge and spur prosecutors to actively investigate various corruptions and allegations about Lee and get to the bottom. 

On the other hand, prosecutors recently informed PSPD that they have decided not to prosecute Lee in regard to secret military alliance with UAE, a serious violation of constitution. Last month, PSPD and 1,382 citizens reported Lee and Kim Tae-young a former defense minister to prosecutors but incomprehensible decision was made without having a single inquiry of accusers. Therefore, PSPD requested a ruling to Seoul High Court one day before statute of limitation expired in order to demand pressing charges.

What distress small business owner more than minimum wage

As soon as minimum hourly wage increased by 16.4% to 7,530 won in 2018, corporates and conservative media have started to put stress on burdens small business owners and self-employers have releasing negative articles on the wage increase. Hence, PSPD held a press conference in the line with Economy Democratization Network and denounced that it would mislead the people to think that small business owners oppose to rate increase itself. However, they said there are other difficulties more serious than minimum wage such as high rate of credit card fees, expensive loyalty to franchiser and agency commission, high margin paid to suppliers, high rent fee and unfair contract with building owners. In addition to raising minimum hourly wage to meet the basic standard of living, PSPD will also work for necessary policies and legislation for desperate small business owners including rooting-out unfair trade with Chaebol and large companies, improving profit share structure between franchisers and franchisees and prevention measure for surging rent fee.

Accused Yang Seung-tae, a former chief justice of the Supreme Court of inspecting judges

PSPD and 1,080 citizens have accused a former chief justice Yang Seung-tae and responsible persons of inspecting judges last January for the charge of abusing authorities. Composing a document of inspecting judges means that National Court Administration which has judicial administration has infringed the independence of judge and trial secured in the constitution. PSPD considers it not tolerable. While there is a deep mistrust on judiciary, the truth has to be found by thorough investigation followed by punishing responsible persons. 

Presented Housing benefit status which fails to protect housing vulnerable class

and suggestions for improvement

It was desirable to abolish duty of supporting family standard from housing benefit scheme but current benefit is not sufficient to protect the right to live for housing vulnerable class. Hence, PSPD has released an issue report stating current status and improvement measures. The report shows that housing benefit paid to households living in private rental house is far less than an average monthly rent (202,000won in 2016) and households who receive benefit of less than 50,000won reaches 13.8%. In the most expensive residential area such as Seoul, 33% of tenants live in a smaller place than minimum dwelling size proving that housing vulnerable class live in a very poor environment. To increase the benefit up to the standard enough to secure the right to live, current rental fee standard also has to be raised and minimum benefit should be guaranteed by the law.

Lee Jae-yong on probation, Lee Geon-hee’s thousands of borrowed-name accounts,

No more generosity to Chaebol 

Judiciary should be ashamed of appeal decision on Lee Jae-yong, vice chairman of Samsung. The second trial said not guilty for most charges reversing verdicts of the first trial ignoring the nature of the case, immoral cronyism between economic and political fields. Decision of appeal court judges of Lee Jae-yong is partly different from judges for Choi Sun-sil trial but bribery charges against Samsung was applied at minimum comparing with Shin Don-bin, a chairman of Lotte Group case. The court regarded that bribes were forced to give or passively delivered. Therefore, PSPD strongly denounced the court’s decision and held an urgent discussion to review the ruling. It posted full text of the first and the second ruling on PSPD’s website for citizens to read and comment.

More than 260 Lee Geon-hee’s borrowed-name accounts under names of 72 Samsung executives were additionally discovered besides what Cho Jun-woong, Samsung special prosecutor and Financial Supervisory Service found. Proper investigation on endlessly borrowed-name accounts must be carried out and the responsible persons should be punished accordingly by the law. Furthermore, PSPD urges to inspect National Tax Service for not levying taxes properly, and swift taxing and examining Lee Geon-hee for eligibility as a major shareholder should follow.

Urged to continue to cease military actions in Korean Peninsula after Pyeongchang Olympic

Taking Pyeongchang Olympic as an opportunity, military tension in Korean peninsula has disappeared and talks have started. North Korea shows strong will to improve South-North relationship and Korean government is trying hard to make North Korea and US to talk. However, there are worries that tension of military conflicts could revive after the Olympic. PSPD suggested standpoint to Civil and Peace organizations and presented followings. Military actions in Korean Peninsula such as Korea-US military drill and testing nuclear missile of North Korea must be stopped. North Korea and US must talk and negotiate. Demands of Korean civil society for stopping military actions and the peace would be delivered to US administration and parliament and they will jointly work with international peace organizations.

Experience solidarity and cooperation while resolving Paris Baguette illegal dispatch matter

Problems with Illegal dispatch of Paris Baguette issued last year have been resolved that non-regular workers union and Paris Baguette headquarter have reached an agreement on 11 January. It became settled within two months since Civil and social organizations Committee in which PSPD participated was formed in last November. They failed to agree on direct employment by the headquarter but there have been solidarity and cooperation among concerned subjects from discussing various ways of employment that requires guarantee of the headquarter till reaching the agreement. PSPD has also made big contribution in the process and submitted a letter of opinion in respect to reform of Employment Insurance Act which Ministry of Labor and Employment announced to legislate. Regarding the bill prepared by the government, PSPD comments that increasing unemployment benefit from 50% to 60% of average wage and extending payment period (30 days) meet strengthening security but there should be considerate approach in setting the lowest limit to 80% of minimum wage because almost 70% of recipients would get the lowest benefit. 

External pressure on investigating Kangwon Land’s corrupted recruitment,

the reason why Special Investigation Agency is required.

Even though most citizens support for establishing special investigation agency for high-ranking public officials, it is not making any progress because Liberty Korea Party hinders. Judicial Reform Special Committee was passed the National Assembly last year for the purpose of discussing the set up but it has wasted time doing nothing until agreement was made between ruling and opposition party to receive reports from five government agencies including Ministry of Justice, Supreme Prosecutors Office and National Court Administration for one month starting from 23 February. Moreover, the Minjoo Party looks incompetent to stop boycott of Liberty Korea Party.

PSPD started signature campaign to make the Judicial Reform Special Committee to work and get the National Assembly to pass the bill of establishing investigation agency. While there is a high demand for reform of prosecutors’ office, Ahn Mi-hyeon, a prosecutor at Chuncheon office has exposed that there was external pressure on the investigation of Kangwon Land’s corrupted recruitment. She was asked to delete the list of evidences on which Kwon Seong-dong, Yeom Dong-yeol from Liberty Korea Party and the name of chief prosecutor at that time appeared. Names like Choi Jong-won, a chief prosecutor of Chuncheon Office and Kim Soo-nam prosecutor-general are also mentioned in this case. Suspicions have been consistently raised for poor investigation and politicians and prosecutors jointly tried to cover it up. These clearly explains why investigation agency for high-ranking official is required in deed.

PSPD is demanding to find the truth through state inspection or special prosecutors if someone connived at Yeom and Kwon,and there were external pressures. PSPD has filed a claim for damage compensation last December and started to protest against Liberty Korea Party lawmakers including Kwon and Yeom who asked unfair favors to Kangwon Land and commercial banks in which 22 cases of unfair recruitment have been confirmed. Youth PSPD and various youth organizations strongly denounced corruptions in front of KEB Hana Bank which has the highest number of wrong recruitment cases and demanded to withdraw unfair employment and revived victims. They also held a press conference urging prosecutors to carry out strict investigation and give a reasonable punishment.

Urge to adopt Universal Children’s Allowance

Finally, Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly passed the bill to give child benefit excluding top 10% income household. The Ministry of Health and Welfare said to push forward for universal benefit but failed to get agreement from oppositions including Liberty Korea Party. A welfare system which separates tax payers and recipient is not sustainable. It did not consider administrative waste and hindrance to social integration which would be caused by excluding top 10%. In respect to this, PSPD and many childcare institutions and organizations are consistently demanding the government and the National Assembly to adopt universal children’s allowance as promised at the last presidential election. In coming general election, citizens will be informed of parties and politicians that are in charge of distorted child benefit.